John 6:8-9 More about Andrew

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”  

Andrew and his brother must have been very close. Not only was Peter the first person Andrew told about Christ, they lived together. Mark 1:29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Since Simon’s mother-in-law lived there I would assume Simon's wife lived there also. Possibly there was more extended family. Again, we see the importance of family with this set of brothers as with James and John.  

It also appears that Andrew was a resourceful, responsible person. He was the one who found the fish and loaves when Jesus fed the five thousand. John 6:8-9 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,  “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” He served as a messenger in John 12:20-22 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.  

In Acts chapter one, Andrew is listed as present for Jesus ascension into heaven and the choosing of Matthias as an apostle. There is no other mention of Andrew in the BIble. but we do have some further information from church history and tradition:

From what we know from church history and tradition, Andrew kept bringing people to Christ, even after Jesus’ death.  He never seemed to care about putting his own life at risk. It is believed that he was martyred by crucifixion in the city of Patras which was on the northern coast of Peloponnese which was in Greece.  Given the fact that he was likely crucified there, he must have, like many of the other apostles, went well beyond Judea to bring the gospel into all the world as Christ had commanded (Matt 28:19-20).  Church historian Eusebuis wrote that he may have brought the gospel to as far away as Kiev which is now part of Ukraine.  It’s interesting that he was crucified like Christ but in the pattern or shape of an “X” which was often a Christian symbol and is now known as St. Andrew’s cross because it was said that Andrew, like his brother Peter, considered himself unworthy of being crucified in the same manner as Christ was.  He was crucified close to 70 AD.  Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/the-apostle-andrew-biography-life-and-death/#ixzz4WdL6zlb7  

Andrew was the first apostle. He was often one of the inner circle with Jesus, probably mostly because of his brother, Peter. He was a steady, consistent member of the Apostles.  

Lord, thank you for using all kinds of personalities and temperaments. Please help us to allow you to use us no matter what our personality is like. Amen.