John 1:40 (KJV)

Passage

One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

Nearby Context

John 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

John 1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

John 1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "heard", "john", "speak", "followed", "andrew", "simon", "peter", and "brother". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "heard" and "john", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 39's "He saith unto them Come and see..." into verse 41's "He first findeth his own brother Simon...", so "heard" and "john" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "heard" and "john" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.