Andrew

Biography

Andrew was originally a disciple of John the Baptist, and when John pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew followed Jesus and spent the day with Him. His immediate response was to find his brother Simon and declare, 'We have found the Messiah,' bringing Peter to Jesus before Peter's own dramatic call to apostleship. Andrew's pattern of introducing others to Christ would define his role among the twelve. Andrew appears again at the feeding of the five thousand, the one who noticed a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish and brought him to Jesus, even while questioning what such meager provisions could accomplish among so many. Jesus used the boy's small offering, presented through Andrew, to feed the multitude. When Greek visitors to Jerusalem sought an audience with Jesus, they approached Philip, who in turn brought the request to Andrew, and together they brought the Greeks to Jesus, extending Christ's reach beyond Israel even before the crucifixion. Andrew was also among the inner circle who asked Jesus privately about the signs of the end of the age on the Mount of Olives. Though less prominent than his brother Peter in the Gospel narratives, Andrew's consistent role as a connector, bringing individuals to Jesus rather than seeking prominence himself, established a model of quiet, faithful evangelism. Tradition holds that Andrew was martyred by crucifixion in Achaia.