Apostles

THE APOSTLES : M.M.NINAN
followed Christ, Philip was partly dejected and partly frightened when Christ asked him
where they could buy enough bread to feed so many. He hesitated to answer, "'Two
hundred denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, that each one may receive a little.'"
Then, unobstrusively, almost shyly, Andrew inquired about the provisions on hand. He could
report only a pitifully meager result: " 'There is a young boy here who has five barley loaves
and two fishes.'" and then, feeling almost personally responsible that there was so little to
offer, he apologetically added, " 'But what are those among so many?'" And quickly he
stepped back again to stand quietly on the side.
A second appearance of Andrew is mentioned by John. There were certain converts from
among the pagans who had come to Jerusalem to worship God on the day of the Passover.
It was Christ's last celebration of this great feast of the Jews, only days before His passion
and death. These proselytes approached Philip and inquired, "'Sir, we wish to see
Jesus'" Philip referred them to Andrew who mentioned it to the Lord.
The third incident occurred connected with the prophesy of the destruction of Jerusalem,
by Jesus. And as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, opposite the temple, Peter and
James and John and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when are these things to happen,
and what will be the sign when all these will begin to come to pass?"
He is not even mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. None of his works are known. No Epistles
he wrote has been preserved. This is not because Andrew was not an active Apostle but because
the Bible is essentially codified from the point of view of Greco-Roman culture and its interaction
with the Gospel. So we have to go by the traditions. These were handed down by word of mouth
and rituals and songs.
A fragment of a Coptic gospel of the 4th or 5th century tells how not only Thomas (Jn 20:27), but
also Andrew was compelled, by touching the feet of the risen Saviour, to believe in the bodily
resurrection (Hennecke, Neutestamentlichen Apokryphen, etc., 38, 39).
These are referred to by early fathers.
Thus
Eusebius (Church History III.1), relying, apparently, upon Origen, assigns Scythia as his
mission field: Andras de [eilechen] ten Skythian;