John 1:42

Jesus anticipated what Peter would become in the history of the church by God’s grace. He may have had previous contact with him and known Peter’s reputation since both men lived only a few miles apart in Galilee. Simon was a common Jewish name, probably derived from Simeon. Jesus gave him a nickname that expressed his character, which was not uncommon. It is interesting that Simon Peter originally had the same rash and impulsive character as his ancestor Simeon, the second son of Jacob. Cephas is Aramaic, the common language of Palestine, and means "Rock." Peter is the Greek translation of Cephas. As the record of Peter unfolds in the Gospels, he appears as anything but a rock; he was impulsive, volatile, and unreliable. Yet Jesus named Peter in view of what he would become by the power of God, not what he then was.

"In bringing his brother Simon Peter to Christ, no man did the church a greater service than Andrew." [Note: Blum, p. 275.]

Every time we meet Andrew in this Gospel he is bringing someone to Jesus (cf. John 6:8; John 12:22). Thus he serves as an excellent example of what a disciple of Jesus should do.