Illustration created for this project.

Andrew — the First-Called

Brother of Simon Peter and, like him, a fisherman of Bethsaida. A former disciple of John the Baptist, Andrew was among the first Jesus called. Tradition sends him preaching around the Black Sea and Greece, where he was crucified at Patras on an X-shaped cross.

Role: Apostle

Also known as: Andrew the Apostle

Lived: c. AD 5 – c. AD 70

Belonged to: The Twelve Apostles, Israelites (Hebrews)

Born: Bethsaida

Death: Traditionally crucified at Patras in Achaea, Greece

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1

Origin & birthplace

BibleA fisherman of Bethsaida, brother of Simon Peter.

John 1:44

↳ Bethsaida · Simon Peter

Life, role & deeds

BibleFirst a disciple of John the Baptist, he was among the first to follow Jesus and brought his brother Peter.

John 1:40–42

↳ Simon Peter

Death & legacy

ScholarlyTradition holds he was crucified at Patras in Greece on an X-shaped cross (the 'saltire').

Later apocryphal Acts of Andrew

↳ Patras

Where in scripture

Matthew Mark Luke John Acts

Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
Matthew 4:18

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother;
Matthew 10:2

Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
Mark 1:16 — Called with Peter

Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
Mark 1:29

Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot;
Mark 3:18

As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
Mark 13:3

Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew;
Luke 6:14

One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
John 1:40 — First-called; brings Peter to Jesus

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Matthew 4:18 Matthew 10:2 Mark 1:16 Mark 1:29 Mark 3:18 Mark 13:3 Luke 6:14 John 1:40 John 1:44 John 6:8 John 12:22 Acts 1:13

Family

In their own words — 6 recorded sayings

“And they say to him, We have here but five cakes of bread and two fishes.” — Matthew 14:17

“And he said to them, How much bread have you? go and see. And when they had seen, they said, Five cakes of bread and two fishes.” — Mark 6:38

“But he said, Give them food yourselves. And they said, We have only five cakes of bread and two fishes, if we do not go and get food for all these people.” — Luke 9:13

“And Jesus, turning round, saw them coming after him and said to them, What are you looking for? They said to him, Rabbi (which is to say, Master), where are you living?” — John 1:38

“Early in the morning he came across his brother and said to him, We have made discovery! It is the Messiah! (which is to say, the Christ).” — John 1:41