The apostle Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was a fisherman from Bethsaida, located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. One first encounters him in the New Testament as he and Peter are fishing on the Sea (Mark 1:16; Matt 4:18). The Bible says that when Jesus called Andrew and Peter “straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him” (Mark 1:16). In John’s Gospel, however, Andrew is a disciple of John the Baptist, who, upon hearing Jesus’ words, follows him to where Jesus was staying. This apparent contradiction may be explained by the fact that Andrew did in fact first meet Jesus by the Jordan, but does not become a disciple at that time. Although Andrew acknowledges that he believes Jesus to be the Messiah, it is only when Jesus commands him at the Sea of Galilee that Andrew follows Jesus permanently.
Soon afterwards, Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law at Andrew’s house (Mark 1:29). Later still, Andrew is part of the apostolic delegation that inquires of Jesus when the last days would come (Mark 13:3). In John’s Gospel, Andrew seems to be an intermediary. When “certain Greeks” ask to see Jesus, Philip first goes to Andrew, who then takes the whole group to see Him (John 12:22). Finally, Andrew is said to have been present with the rest of the Apostles and disciples in the upper room before Pentecost (Acts 1:13).
Outside the New Testament, church tradition says Andrew preached the Gospel in Asia Minor, Scythia, Georgia, and Greece. He was allegedly crucified in the city of Patras.