ANDREW.
I know not.
But here is Philip, come from Nazareth.
He hath been with the Master. Tell us, Philip,
What tidings dost thou bring?
The Annotated Edition
ANDREW. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Read aloud in ~1 min
This brief dramatic poem presents Andrew, one of Jesus's first disciples, as he anxiously awaits news about Jesus and greets Philip upon his return from Nazareth.
- Themes
- doubt, faith, hope
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
This brief dramatic poem presents Andrew, one of Jesus's first disciples, as he anxiously awaits news about Jesus and greets Philip upon his return from Nazareth. It encapsulates a powerful moment filled with uncertainty and anticipation right before Philip reveals what he has seen. Longfellow condenses an expansive biblical narrative into just four subtle lines, allowing the tension to take center stage.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
I know not. / But here is Philip, come from Nazareth.
Editor's note
Andrew opens mid-conversation, responding to a question we never actually hear. His "I know not" reveals his true uncertainty — he doesn't have the answers that others are looking for. Then, Philip arrives, having just come from Nazareth, Jesus's hometown, and the atmosphere shifts instantly from confusion to excitement.
He hath been with the Master. Tell us, Philip, / What tidings dost thou bring?
Editor's note
Andrew sees Philip as someone who has encountered Jesus — referring to Jesus as "the Master" shows both respect and the beginnings of discipleship. The final question, "What tidings dost thou bring?", captures the poem in a moment of pure anticipation, placing the reader in the same breathless suspense as the disciples.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
The tone is quiet and full of anticipation. Longfellow employs old-fashioned biblical language ("dost thou," "tidings," "hath") to immerse us in the world of the Gospels, and the poem's short length heightens the feeling of suspended breath. There’s no spectacle or extravagance here — just a subtle, urgent focus on news that will alter everything.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- Philip coming from Nazareth
- Philip's arrival from Nazareth signifies a moment of revelation—he brings firsthand knowledge of Jesus, and his journey illustrates how faith passes from one person to another.
- "The Master"
- This title isn't merely a name for Jesus; it signifies the beginning of a believing community. Referring to someone as "the Master" indicates that a bond of devotion and learning has already started.
- "I know not"
- Andrew's candid acknowledgment of not knowing is a reflection of the human experience before faith sets in—it's honest, humble, and receptive to whatever comes next.
§06Historical context
Historical context
This poem is part of Longfellow's ambitious collection *Christus: A Mystery* (1872), a dramatic trilogy he spent nearly thirty years crafting. The collection explores the story of Christianity through three eras: the early church, the Middle Ages, and the modern period. "Andrew" is included in the first section, *The Divine Tragedy*, which presents scenes from the Gospels in dramatic verse — essentially, each poem serves as a speech from a biblical character. Longfellow had a passion for large-scale religious and historical themes throughout his career, and *Christus* was his most personally significant work, even though it didn’t receive the same acclaim as his narrative poems like *Evangeline* or *The Song of Hiawatha*. The poem is directly inspired by the Gospel of John, where Andrew and Philip are among the first disciples called by Jesus.
§07FAQ
Questions readers ask
It's a dramatic monologue delivered by Andrew, one of Jesus's twelve disciples. In the midst of a conversation, he confesses he doesn't know something, then notices Philip approaching from Nazareth. He asks Philip what news he has about Jesus. The entire poem captures that single moment — the anticipation of an answer.
Longfellow crafted this poem as part of his larger dramatic piece, *Christus: A Mystery*, where each poem serves as a speech within a verse play. Similar to a single scene in a drama, it doesn't have to be lengthy; it simply needs to encapsulate one powerful moment, and it achieves that perfectly.
Andrew is among the first disciples Jesus calls in the Gospels. He is Simon Peter's brother and frequently appears as the one who brings others to Jesus — in the Gospel of John, he’s the one who first introduces Peter to Jesus. As a connector, it makes sense that he’s here, waiting for news from Philip.
Philip is one of Jesus's twelve disciples. In the Gospel of John, Jesus calls Philip directly, and Philip goes on to find Nathanael. Here, Longfellow depicts him coming back from Nazareth with news about Jesus, casting him as a messenger bringing fresh testimony.
"Tidings" is an old-fashioned term for news or information. Longfellow incorporates this archaic language in *Christus* to evoke the atmosphere of the biblical world. So, "What tidings dost thou bring?" essentially translates to "What news do you have for us?"
*Christus: A Mystery* is a three-part dramatic poem that Longfellow worked on for decades before publishing it in 1872. This excerpt is from the first part, *The Divine Tragedy*, which recounts moments from Jesus’ life through the perspectives of those who witnessed them. You can think of it as a verse drama, and "Andrew" represents one brief scene within that larger narrative.
Yes. Starting with an admission of ignorance is a purposeful decision. It puts Andrew — and, by extension, the reader — in a genuine state of unknowing, just at the brink of discovery. It's a distinctly human moment: not having the answers just yet, but sensing that someone might soon provide them.
Faith is the central theme here — the poem captures the precise moment just before belief is either confirmed or strengthened by new insights. It also conveys a deep sense of hope and anticipation, while exploring identity, as Andrew shapes his sense of self and his community in relation to "the Master."
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