Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter was also known as "Andrew the son of Jonah (or John)". Because Andrew is mentioned in the Sacred Scripture after Peter, this usually
was a respectful way of noting Peter was the older brother of the two.....
Andrew has brought the attention of many Christian historians and theologians. Pope Benedict XVI commented the name Andrew itself was not Hebrew, but of Greek origin. This could be a clear indicator how a new culture was being much more tolerant of the lifestyles between the Jewish people and Gentiles ( non-Jewish). The word Andrew itself is defined as "manly, or that of a strong man".
The "inner circle" of the 12 apostles, Peter, James and John...did not include Andrew, although Andrew would be a close 4th in his relationship to the Lord Jesus. Yet, it is not fair to measure people by their acceptance,,,so let it be suffice to say...Jesus loved Andrew as He loved all His 12 disciples...including Judas Iscariot.
Andrew was one of the first followers of the Lord Jesus, and most likely the first of all the apostles. In fact, Andrew has been referred to as the "Protoklete" (Greek), meaning the first called of all the apostles.
The Gospel of John reveals Andrew to be a disciple of John the Baptizer. When Andrew heard John the Baptizer confirm Jesus as " the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"...Andrew was quick and accepted Jesus as his Messiah...his Lord...his King! Add to the fact he spent an afternoon with Christ Jesus, Andrew was equally excited to tell his brother Simon (Peter) the Messiah is now here!
This appears to be a personality trait of Andrew...to react immediately to hearing something announced. In Mark 3: 13-18 Jesus chose who He felt were the "right guys" to continue His message: " Jesus climbed up the mountainside, and then called those He wanted to be with Him...and they came. Jesus had settled on 12..."The Original" to continue walking with Him...so they might be sent out into the world as His representatives...His "Special Messengers"...who will go out into the world with His Authority....to heal the sick...and to have His power to cast out evil spirits.
Here then...are "The Original":
1. Simon ( Jesus changed his name to Peter...meaning "rock").
2. John (the son of Zebedee).
3. James ( a brother of John who Jesus nicknamed "the Sons of Thunder").
4. ANDREW
5. Phillip
6. Bartholomew
7. Matthew
8. Thomas ( my personal favorite!!)
9. James ( the son of Alphaeus)
10. Thaddeus
11. Simon...the Canaanite
12. Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Him).
Andrew seemed to have a passion for meeting the need of others. In John 12:21-22, both Phillip and Andrew asked Jesus: " There were some Greeks in the city of Jerusalem during the Passover, for they had approached Phillip who was also from Bethsaida in Galilee...and they asked him: "Phillip, we would really like to meet Jesus...can you help us?" Phillip came and told Andrew, then Andrew and Phillip together went to to Jesus...and told Him."
Andrew was quick to want to know what was to happen next...and in Mark 13: 3 it reads:
" As Jesus had returned to the Mount of Olives, which had full view of the Temple in Jerusalem, there with Him were Peter, James, John, and Andrew. Andrew called Jesus privately and asked Him: "Tell us, when will we know the end is here?....when the Temple will be destroyed?"
Early Christian church tradition writes the church leaders desired a 4th Gospel to confirm and write from yet another's view on life...being with Christ Jesus while he was here on earth. Tradition also dictates John and Andrew fasted for 3 days and when John began to write his Gospel from his point of view, John was in consultation with Andrew, so the details of the events would be written accurately. Yet even if this traditional view is true, we must always keep in mind it is the Holy Spirit who inspired each one to write the entire New Testament.
Early church historians also write that Andrew went and preached the Gospel in Asia Minor, in an area we later know as the "Letters to the 7 churches" in the book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. This includes the local early Christian churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyratira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. It is equally written Andrew may have ventured as far into eastern Europe as the Ukraine and the village of Kiev in what we now call Russia.
Yet, the truth remains we are not completely sure where and what Andrew actually did in his first century culture...and our only reliance is on early church historians and church traditions. The New Testament is simply silent as to where and what Andrew might have done after the Resurrection.
With our only reliance being on first century historians and early church tradition, it is said Andrew was crucified...in a village called Petras, in the region of Achea in what we now call Turkey. What had happened is Andrew had continued in sharing the Good News of Jesus, and a lady named Maximillia received the Lord Jesus into her heart. The problem was she was the wife of Aegaeas, the governor of the region. He was very enraged about his wife's conversion and threatened Andrew to be crucified on a cross. It is recorded that Andrew responded to the governor's threat with these words: " Had I feared death of the cross, I should not have preached...the very majesty and gloriousness of the...cross of Christ."
So, Andrew was crucified.
It is also written Andrew's crucifixion was different than the one Jesus suffered on His cross.
Andrew requested to be crucified in the shape of an "X" rather than the traditional cross, in honor of Christ Jesus...in respect to his King.
Andrew was written to have lived for 2 days while on his cross, and spent this time continuing to spread the message of the Lord Jesus...until Andrew passed away. This would not be uncommon in that day to be hung upon the cross and live for a few days...alot of it depending on the severity of how one was put upon a cross.
What I remember about Andrew is how he worked "behind he scenes" to help others find a better life by receiving Him. Andrew thought of his own brother first after meeting the Lord Jesus, he was involved with the feeding of the 5000, and even his concern for the Greek men wanting to meet Jesus...the true Messiah.
Other historians report of Andrew spreading the Gospel as far north as Scotland. Today, Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, as well as Russia and Greece as well. The flag of Scotland today...is the "X" cross of Saint Andrew.
He seemed to be a man that was excited to meet Jesus from his very early life...and never lost his excitement for Him...throughout his entire life.
was a respectful way of noting Peter was the older brother of the two.....
Andrew has brought the attention of many Christian historians and theologians. Pope Benedict XVI commented the name Andrew itself was not Hebrew, but of Greek origin. This could be a clear indicator how a new culture was being much more tolerant of the lifestyles between the Jewish people and Gentiles ( non-Jewish). The word Andrew itself is defined as "manly, or that of a strong man".
The "inner circle" of the 12 apostles, Peter, James and John...did not include Andrew, although Andrew would be a close 4th in his relationship to the Lord Jesus. Yet, it is not fair to measure people by their acceptance,,,so let it be suffice to say...Jesus loved Andrew as He loved all His 12 disciples...including Judas Iscariot.
Andrew was one of the first followers of the Lord Jesus, and most likely the first of all the apostles. In fact, Andrew has been referred to as the "Protoklete" (Greek), meaning the first called of all the apostles.
The Gospel of John reveals Andrew to be a disciple of John the Baptizer. When Andrew heard John the Baptizer confirm Jesus as " the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"...Andrew was quick and accepted Jesus as his Messiah...his Lord...his King! Add to the fact he spent an afternoon with Christ Jesus, Andrew was equally excited to tell his brother Simon (Peter) the Messiah is now here!
This appears to be a personality trait of Andrew...to react immediately to hearing something announced. In Mark 3: 13-18 Jesus chose who He felt were the "right guys" to continue His message: " Jesus climbed up the mountainside, and then called those He wanted to be with Him...and they came. Jesus had settled on 12..."The Original" to continue walking with Him...so they might be sent out into the world as His representatives...His "Special Messengers"...who will go out into the world with His Authority....to heal the sick...and to have His power to cast out evil spirits.
1. Simon ( Jesus changed his name to Peter...meaning "rock").
2. John (the son of Zebedee).
3. James ( a brother of John who Jesus nicknamed "the Sons of Thunder").
4. ANDREW
5. Phillip
6. Bartholomew
7. Matthew
8. Thomas ( my personal favorite!!)
9. James ( the son of Alphaeus)
10. Thaddeus
11. Simon...the Canaanite
12. Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Him).
Andrew seemed to have a passion for meeting the need of others. In John 12:21-22, both Phillip and Andrew asked Jesus: " There were some Greeks in the city of Jerusalem during the Passover, for they had approached Phillip who was also from Bethsaida in Galilee...and they asked him: "Phillip, we would really like to meet Jesus...can you help us?" Phillip came and told Andrew, then Andrew and Phillip together went to to Jesus...and told Him."
Andrew was quick to want to know what was to happen next...and in Mark 13: 3 it reads:
" As Jesus had returned to the Mount of Olives, which had full view of the Temple in Jerusalem, there with Him were Peter, James, John, and Andrew. Andrew called Jesus privately and asked Him: "Tell us, when will we know the end is here?....when the Temple will be destroyed?"
Early Christian church tradition writes the church leaders desired a 4th Gospel to confirm and write from yet another's view on life...being with Christ Jesus while he was here on earth. Tradition also dictates John and Andrew fasted for 3 days and when John began to write his Gospel from his point of view, John was in consultation with Andrew, so the details of the events would be written accurately. Yet even if this traditional view is true, we must always keep in mind it is the Holy Spirit who inspired each one to write the entire New Testament.
Early church historians also write that Andrew went and preached the Gospel in Asia Minor, in an area we later know as the "Letters to the 7 churches" in the book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. This includes the local early Christian churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyratira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. It is equally written Andrew may have ventured as far into eastern Europe as the Ukraine and the village of Kiev in what we now call Russia.
Yet, the truth remains we are not completely sure where and what Andrew actually did in his first century culture...and our only reliance is on early church historians and church traditions. The New Testament is simply silent as to where and what Andrew might have done after the Resurrection.
With our only reliance being on first century historians and early church tradition, it is said Andrew was crucified...in a village called Petras, in the region of Achea in what we now call Turkey. What had happened is Andrew had continued in sharing the Good News of Jesus, and a lady named Maximillia received the Lord Jesus into her heart. The problem was she was the wife of Aegaeas, the governor of the region. He was very enraged about his wife's conversion and threatened Andrew to be crucified on a cross. It is recorded that Andrew responded to the governor's threat with these words: " Had I feared death of the cross, I should not have preached...the very majesty and gloriousness of the...cross of Christ."
So, Andrew was crucified.
It is also written Andrew's crucifixion was different than the one Jesus suffered on His cross.
Andrew requested to be crucified in the shape of an "X" rather than the traditional cross, in honor of Christ Jesus...in respect to his King.
Andrew was written to have lived for 2 days while on his cross, and spent this time continuing to spread the message of the Lord Jesus...until Andrew passed away. This would not be uncommon in that day to be hung upon the cross and live for a few days...alot of it depending on the severity of how one was put upon a cross.
What I remember about Andrew is how he worked "behind he scenes" to help others find a better life by receiving Him. Andrew thought of his own brother first after meeting the Lord Jesus, he was involved with the feeding of the 5000, and even his concern for the Greek men wanting to meet Jesus...the true Messiah.
Other historians report of Andrew spreading the Gospel as far north as Scotland. Today, Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, as well as Russia and Greece as well. The flag of Scotland today...is the "X" cross of Saint Andrew.
He seemed to be a man that was excited to meet Jesus from his very early life...and never lost his excitement for Him...throughout his entire life.
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