#3~ THE APOSTLES 12-21-13
Today we'll continue with our study to do with the apostles, and bring a few thoughts on their lives and death. -- James the son of Zebedee, and brother of John, is the only apostolic martyrdom recorded in Scripture, it's in Acts 12:1.
~ In his Ecclesiastical History book, Eusebius, tells about the officer who was attached to James, and commissioned with guarding him, he tells that the officer was so impressed with the apostle James witness, that before James was martyred, this officer confessed Christ as Savior and was beheaded with the apostle James. -- Paul was said to be beheaded by Nero.
~ The Bible does not give us a record about the ways in which the apostles died, -- We must rely on early church historians and secular historians as well, but both seem to be in agreement and both are reliable. -- Because of this, we have no reason to disbelieve these accounts as the majority of them agree on the method of the apostles' deaths. --
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* Today we'll think and talk about: -- ANDREW:
The name "ANDREW" means (manly). He was the brother of Simon Peter and one of Jesus' first disciples.
~Andrew most likely was younger than Peter, their father named "John or Jonas" probably was dead at the time both Peter and Andrew became disciples.
* Both Andrew and Peter were fishermen;
>Matt. 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
~They were from Bethsaida on the northwest coast of the Sea of Galilee. They also had a house at Capernaum in this vicinity. --
Mark 1: 29-31 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon [right away] they tell him of her. 31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
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~According to the Gospel of John, Andrew and an unnamed friend were among the followers of John the Baptist.
>John 1:35--40 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. [About 4 pm] 40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
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~All lists of the disciples name Andrew among the first four (Matt. 10:2--4; Mark 3:16--19; Luke 6:14--16; and Acts as well- 1:13
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~According to tradition, Andrew was crucified but he was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece. ---The fact that he was in Greece may mean that he was busy taking the gospel to the whole world...at least the known world.
~ It is believed that while he hung on that cross and was dying, he called to the crowds and taught them about Jesus Christ and how they might be saved, he was sharing the gospel up until the very time of his death on the x-shaped cross...being loyal to the very end. -- Two whole days the martyr Andrew remained hanging on the cross alive, preaching, with outstretched arms fastened on the X shaped cross.
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~Andrew is not mentioned very often in the gospels, but what is recorded of him reveals him as a humble, devoted and consistent disciple of Jesus Christ who was very close to Jesus.
>Mark 13:3-4 And as HE ** sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, ** [OTHER SIDE] Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
* It was Andrew that Tells Jesus of the Greeks who sought to see him.
>John 12:20-22 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: --- 21The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
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* It was Andrew that reports the number of loaves and fishes at the feeding of the five thousand.
>John 6:8-9 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
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* Andrew met with the disciples after the Lord's ascension:
>Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
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~ Early in the gospels, the younger brother Andrew comes first, and Peter last.
~And the reason is that Jesus was just beginning His ministry - before the apostles were appointed and before Peter had come to see Him.
~At that time Andrew only was a disciple; -- the time of Peter had not yet come. ~ But as time passes the choice of apostles always puts Peter at the head the list. ~As time passed Peter figures most prominently in the gospels and the Acts, and became the leader of the apostles.
~ But In the providence of God, Andrew knew the Lord before Peter.
~This was why in the early church; he went by the name, "Andrew the first-called"
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~Andrew was one of the two first disciples of Jesus; he was a disciple of John the Baptist before he became a disciple of Christ.
~ Andrew, along with two other young fishermen, Simon and Philip, heard teaching far different from that of the scribes to which they were accustomed.
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~John the Baptist preached his soul searching doctrine, and told of One far greater than himself who was just about to come on the scene, young Andrew, as a seeker after truth, wanted to know more.
~ As John the Baptist preached repentance, he preached it with special reference to the coming of Christ, and as His forerunner he prepared His way.
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~ After hearing John say, "I baptize thee with water," Andrew and his companions were baptized and became disciples of John, making Johns hope and expectation their own. --- If Andrew had not been zealous for God he would not have accepted the stern preaching of John.
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>John 1: 35-42 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. [4 pm]
40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
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~And when Jesus came on the scene and Andrew forsook all and followed Him, he was in no way disloyal to John the Baptist, for it was because of John that he had become Jesus disciple.
~ They had followed John, but now because of his testimony concerning the Messiah they turn from him and follow the Lamb of God. ---
~John had no feeling of envy as he saw his disciples leave him for the One preferred before him.
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~They went with Jesus and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day.
What passed between them we are not told, but Andrew and John, [if John was the other] who were to spend many days with Him afterward, would never forget those first hours which was a turning point in their spiritual belief. --- What they learned from Jesus that first day of being with Him convinced them that He was truly the promised Lamb of God.
~Having found Joy and peace in believing, zealous Andrew immediately tells others the story. --- Andrew found the Savior, and Jesus found His first disciple.
~ Let's notice that Andrew had the honor of being "in Christ" before any of the others who would become his fellow-apostles, --- many of the other apostles to come would surpass him in gifts and position.
~None however could rob Andrew of the glory of being the first to believe in Jesus.
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~About a year passed as Jesus was passing through Galilee, that He found Andrew and Peter had been fishing but without much success, all in the foreknowledge of Jesus.
>Luke 5: 1-11 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, [the Sea of Galilee]
2And saw two ships [fishing boats] standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets [plural] for a draught. 5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. [Singular]
6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.--- 7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
-- The miraculous draught of fishes convinced the fishermen of the deity and greatness of Jesus, and there came the command to leave their nets and no longer deal in fish, but men, and the disciples left all and followed Him.
~ Shortly after Andrew together with the rest, was called to the office and honor of the apostolate, and became one of Jesus vice-regents for establishing and extending the Christian church.
~Andrew and the others quickly learned that the service of being the Lords apostle required them to abandon their handicraft and home.
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* Matthews account says;
>Matt.4:18-22 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
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~Simon called Peter, and Andrew became the first two disciples called publicly by Jesus. Andrew had introduced his brother Peter to Jesus on an earlier occasion (John 1:40). --- The invitation, "Follow me," called these earlier believers into a permanent ministry to be shared with Christ. --- "I will make you fishers of men" points out the nature of this ministry. -- They would receive special training in bringing men into the kingdom. -- Having left their nets, these disciples entered into a new relationship and would never again be able to fully return to the occupation they once held so dear.
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~While Andrews name is always mentioned among the first in the apostles, he is not revealed as prominent as "PETER, JAMES AND JOHN" -- Andrew was not among these three when Jesus raised Jairus daughter from the dead, or at Jesus transfiguration glory on the Holy Mount. --- We are not told why Andrew was not permitted to share the privileges of Peter, James, and John.
But Andrew would always have the honored position as being the first disciple of Jesus.
~As we have already mentioned, Andrew died a martyrs death as he was crucified in Greece on a cross shaped like an X.
