Andrew the Apostle, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the brother of Simon Peter. The name Andrew is derived from the Greek name Andreas, which means “manly” or “brave.” Andrew was born circa 5-10 AD in Bethsaida, a town on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee. He was the son of Jonah (or John) and possibly the brother of Simon Peter.
Early Life of Andrew
Little is known about Andrew’s early life. He was born into a family of fishermen and followed the same occupation alongside his brother Peter. Before becoming a disciple of Jesus, Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist, who preached repentance and the coming of the Messiah (John 1:35-40).
Andrew Becomes a Disciple
One day, while John the Baptist was with his disciples, he saw Jesus and declared Him to be the Lamb of God. Andrew and another disciple immediately left John the Baptist to follow Jesus (John 1:35-37). Andrew then brought his brother Peter to meet Jesus, recognizing Him as the Messiah (John 1:41-42). Later, Jesus called Andrew and his brother Peter to leave their fishing boats and follow Him, promising that He would make them “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-20).
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
One of the notable events in which Andrew played a role was the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. When Jesus saw the large crowd and asked how they could be fed, Andrew pointed out a young boy who had five barley loaves and two small fish. Despite the small quantity, Jesus used the food to feed the multitude (John 6:8-13).
After the Resurrection
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Andrew continued to spread the Gospel. He was present during the selection of Matthias as a replacement for Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:13-26). According to tradition, Andrew traveled as far as modern-day Ukraine, Romania, and Russia to preach Christianity.
Death of Andrew
According to various ancient sources, Andrew was martyred by crucifixion around 60-70 AD. He was believed to have been crucified on an X-shaped cross, which later became known as the “Saint Andrew’s Cross.” This symbol can still be found on the flag of Scotland, as Andrew is the patron saint of the country.