He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights the urgent, contagious joy of a fresh encounter with Jesus, showing Andrew immediately seeking out his own brother, Simon. The deliberate use of "first" subtly implies that the other disciple (likely John) also went to find his brother, James, but Andrew got to his first, underscoring the personal urgency of sharing this incredible discovery.
He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
English Standard Version (ESV)
Andrew, one of the two disciples who had just met Jesus, is overcome with excitement and immediately seeks out his own brother, Simon. He finds Simon and shares the incredible news: "We have found the Messiah!" This encounter marks the beginning of Jesus gathering his first followers, with Andrew eager to share this world-changing discovery with his closest family.
Have you ever experienced something so amazing you just couldn't wait to share it? That's the energy here!
When Andrew first met Jesus, he didn't just have a private moment; he immediately ran to find his brother, Simon. The text says Andrew 'first found his own brother Simon' and told him, 'We have found the Messiah.' This wasn't a casual mention; it was driven by a powerful, joyful discovery.
This 'first' is significant. It suggests that Andrew, in his excitement, didn't wait. He went directly to his own family, his own brother, to share this life-changing news. It highlights a natural, almost uncontrollable impulse that comes from truly encountering God: the desire to bring others into that same experience.
Think about it: Andrew had just met the Messiah, and his immediate reaction was to say 'We have found Him.' The 'we' is key! It implies that this discovery wasn't just for him, but something to be shared. This wasn't about keeping the news to himself; it was about inviting others, especially those closest to him, to join in the wonder.
Andrew and Simon used a word that meant everything to their people. What did it really signify?
Andrew tells his brother Simon, 'We have found the Messiah.' The Gospel writer immediately clarifies, '(which means Christ).' This isn't just an interesting linguistic note; it's crucial. The terms 'Messiah' (from Hebrew) and 'Christ' (from Greek) both translate to 'Anointed One.'
For the Jewish people of that time, the 'Anointed One' wasn't just a religious figure. This was the promised King, the descendant of David who would restore Israel, bring justice, and usher in God's kingdom. This was the one they had waited for, hoped for, and prayed for, often for centuries. It was the ultimate title of expectation and hope.
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When Andrew said 'We have found the Messiah,' he wasn't just saying 'We found a teacher.' He was announcing that the long-awaited King, the Hope of Israel, had arrived. This title carried immense weight and significance, pointing to the fulfillment of prophecy and the dawning of a new era. For Simon, hearing this from his own brother would have been electrifying, igniting a deep sense of anticipation.
Understand the original words
mashiach · Hebrew Noun
The promised deliverer of the Jewish nation prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. It signifies the 'Anointed One,' set apart by God for the offices of prophet, priest, and king.
Christos · Greek Noun/Adjective
The Greek translation of the Hebrew 'Messiah.' It identifies Jesus as the divinely appointed King and Savior, anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God's redemptive purposes.
The encounter between Andrew, Simon Peter, and Jesus highlights the personal and relational nature of early faith. The eagerness to share the discovery of the Messiah and the immediate bringing of family members to Jesus underscores the transformative power of this revelation.
c. 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Messianic Expectation in Judaism
Judaism harbored a strong hope for a Messiah, a divinely appointed leader who would restore Israel's kingdom and usher in an era of peace and righteousness. This expectation permeated society, influencing many.
c. AD 27-30
Ministry of John the Baptist
John the Baptist preached a message of repentance in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming the imminent arrival of the Messiah. His ministry drew large crowds and prepared the way for Jesus.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus Begins Public Ministry
Jesus of Nazareth commenced his public ministry, calling disciples and beginning to teach and perform miracles. His identity as the Messiah was gradually revealed.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Andrew Encounters Jesus
Andrew, a follower of John the Baptist, heard Jesus' message and recognized Him as the Messiah. This pivotal moment led him to seek out his brother.
c. AD 27-30
Peter Brought to Jesus
Andrew, filled with excitement, immediately found his brother Simon and told him, 'We have found the Messiah.' He then brought Simon to meet Jesus, who renamed him Peter.
This passage in the Old Testament foretells a prophet like Moses whom God would raise up, directly pointing to the expectation of a Messiah that Andrew and his brother would have been aware of.
Psalm 2:2This Psalm speaks of the rulers of the earth taking their stand against the Lord and his Anointed, reflecting the understanding that the Messiah would be a King appointed by God, which is central to Andrew's declaration.
Isaiah 61:1This prophetic passage describes the Spirit of the Lord anointing a servant for a specific mission, defining the role and purpose of the Messiah that Andrew believed he had found.
John 1:45Philip's subsequent declaration to Nathanael, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote,' echoes Andrew's excitement and highlights the shared discovery of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.
1 Samuel 9:16This verse shows God telling Samuel that he would send a man to anoint, foreshadowing the concept of an 'anointed one' who would be a deliverer, aligning with the Messianic expectation.
ellicottJohn 1:41: "He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ."
[(2) JESUS MANIFESTS HIMSELF TO INDIVIDUALS (John John 1:41 to John 2:11 ): (a)To the first disciples—the witness of man (John 1:41-51); (b)At Cana of Galilee—the witness of nature (John 1:1-11).] (41) He first findeth his own brother.—The probable explanation of this verse, and the only one which gives an adequate meaning to “first” and “his own,” is that…
vincentJohn 1:41: "He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ."
He first findeth (εὑρίσκαι οὗτος πρῶτος)Rev., findeth first. He is the demonstrative pronoun, this one, which, with first, seems to point to the later finding of his brother by the other disciple, i.e., of James by John. Bengel says: "With the festival freshness of those days beautifully corresponds the word findeth, which is frequently used here."His…
This verse highlights the urgent, contagious joy of a fresh encounter with Jesus, showing Andrew immediately seeking out his own brother, Simon. The deliberate use of "first" subtly implies that the other disciple (likely John) also went to find his brother, James, but Andrew got to his first, underscoring the personal urgency of sharing this incredible discovery.
Andrew, one of the two disciples who had just met Jesus, is overcome with excitement and immediately seeks out his own brother, Simon. He finds Simon and shares the incredible news: "We have found the Messiah!" This encounter marks the beginning of Jesus gathering his first followers, with Andrew eager to share this world-changing discovery with his closest family.
Andrew, one of the two disciples who had just met Jesus, is overcome with excitement and immediately seeks out his own brother, Simon. He finds Simon and shares the incredible news: "We have found the Messiah!" This encounter marks the beginning of Jesus gathering his first followers, with Andrew eager to share this world-changing discovery with his closest family.
"He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ)." — This verse highlights the urgent, contagious joy of a fresh encounter with Jesus, showing Andrew immediately seeking out his own brother, Simon. The deliberate use of "first" subtly implies that the…
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Last reviewed October 2026