James, often referred to as James the Greater, is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is the son of Zebedee and the brother of John, another of Jesus' apostles. James is distinguished from James the Less, another apostle, by the epithet "the Greater," which may refer to his age or prominence among the disciples. James and John were fishermen by trade, working alongside their father Zebedee on the Sea of Galilee. They were called by Jesus to follow Him, leaving their nets and father behind to become "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:21-22).

James, along with Peter and John, formed an inner circle of disciples who were privileged to witness certain significant events in Jesus' ministry. These included the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2), the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37), and Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). James and John were given the nickname "Boanerges," meaning "Sons of Thunder," by Jesus, possibly due to their zealous and passionate nature (Mark 3:17).

James' zeal is further illustrated in an incident recorded in Luke 9:54, where he and John asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village that did not welcome them. Jesus rebuked them, teaching a lesson in mercy and patience.

James' life as an apostle was marked by his unwavering commitment to Christ, which ultimately led to his martyrdom. He was the first of the apostles to be martyred, executed by the sword under the orders of King Herod Agrippa I around AD 44 (Acts 12:1-2). His death is a testament to his steadfast faith and dedication to the mission of spreading the Gospel.

Andrew

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, is another of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He was a native of Bethsaida, a town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Like his brother, Andrew was a fisherman by profession. Before following Jesus, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. It was John who pointed Andrew to Jesus, declaring Him to be the "Lamb of God" (John 1:35-40). Andrew, recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, immediately followed Him and brought his brother Peter to meet Jesus, thus playing a pivotal role in Peter's introduction to Christ (John 1:41-42).

Andrew is often noted for his role in bringing others to Jesus. In the account of the feeding of the five thousand, it was Andrew who brought the boy with five barley loaves and two fish to Jesus, facilitating one of the most well-known miracles in the Gospels (John 6:8-9). Additionally, when some Greeks sought to see Jesus, it was Andrew, along with Philip, who brought their request to the Lord (John 12:20-22).

Though not as prominent as some of the other apostles, Andrew's actions demonstrate a quiet yet effective ministry of bringing individuals to Christ. His willingness to introduce others to Jesus highlights the importance of personal evangelism and the impact one can have by simply pointing others to the Savior.

Tradition holds that Andrew continued to preach the Gospel after Jesus' ascension, traveling to various regions, including Scythia, Greece, and Asia Minor. He is believed to have been martyred by crucifixion in Patras, Greece, on an X-shaped cross, which has come to be known as "St. Andrew's Cross." Andrew's legacy is one of faithfulness and evangelistic zeal, inspiring believers to share the message of Christ with others.