NT Characters: Andrew

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/andrewmp3/">website</a>.</p><p><strong>Background</strong></p><ul><li>The name Andreas (English Andrew) comes from the Greek word for man (<i>aner / andros</i>), and hence appears to mean "manly."</li><li>He seems to have been more cosmopolitan (broad-minded and Greek) than the other apostles, and thus figures prominently in John's gospel, which has a more universal focus than the three Synoptic Gospels.</li><li>Apocryphal writings indicate he was from the tribe of Reuben, and that his mother was Joanna, but it is not possible to assign a high degree of credibility to these late sources.</li><li>From Bethsaida, also the home of Philip (John 1:44). This town has been excavated from 1987, soon afterward identified as the biblical Bethsaida.</li><li>He was a simple fisherman (Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:16).</li><li>Andrew was the brother of Peter.</li></ul><p><strong>Ministry</strong></p><ul><li>First call of the apostles. His appointment as apostle is noted in Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14.</li><li>Mark 13:3 -- wanted to know about the destruction of Jerusalem (private talk). He seems to have had a curious and yet commonsensical mind.</li><li>John 1:40-42 -- transfers from John the Baptist to Jesus.</li><li>John 1:41 -- "We have found the Messiah" -- he recruits his brother Peter.</li><li>John 6:8-9 -- alert, connects the boy with the fish with Jesus.</li><li>John 12:20-22 -- connects Greeks who met Philip with the Lord.</li><li>Acts 1:13-14 -- no surprise he is praying with the apostolic band before the day of Pentecost. Yet he is never again mentioned in Acts; the limelight is reserved for his brother Peter, and also for Paul.</li><li>Preached among the Kurds (according to later tradition).</li></ul><p><strong>Martyrdom</strong></p><p> </p><ul><li>Stoned and crucified in Scythia (according to the <i>Martyrdom of Andrew</i>).</li><li>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythians">Scythians</a>, mentioned in Colossi