Footnote 5 – Why Jesus Went Back to Galilee

We are told that after “following” Jesus (John 1:40) Andrew “first found his brother Simon” (John 1:41), presumably to convert him. The word “first” suggests that Simon is the first in a series, but the expected “He next found X” does not appear in the present form of the gospel. In the original story Andrew must have called someone in addition to his brother, presumably Philip, who was also from Bethsaida (John 1:43–44). The story was edited into its present form to give the initiative to Jesus, who challenges the disciples (John 1:38). It is Jesus who tells Philip to “follow me” (John 1:43).