Luke 8:1-3 ESV
1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
FAITHFUL WOMEN DISCIPLES
As Jesus travels, He continues to proclaim the good news that the kingdom of God is near, confirming His words by healing and expelling demons.
The "kingdom of God," also called the "kingdom of heaven." God's kingdom includes any manifestation of His sovereignty, power, and authority over creation. When His kingdom is "near," His authority is especially noticeable. In this context, that means that people listen to and accept what Jesus says about God, Himself, repentance, and the right way of living in light of God's authority. Jesus also brings the kingdom when He rescues people from the fall. He overcomes pain, illness, and demonic activity. With Jesus' first coming, He inaugurated God's kingdom on earth; when He comes again, He will complete God's kingdom. Thus, this dispensation is called as the ‘now and not yet’ period.
Jesus is not a typical rabbi, and He attracts the most unlikely disciples. The group includes fishermen, a tax collector, a Zealot, and a traitor (see Luke 6:12–16). This is not a conventional list, that He trains and commissions to extend His message of good news (see Luke 9:1–6) and sacrifice for His name. (see Luke 9:23–27, 57–62). They were with Him to build the church. (Acts 1—2).
He has mentioned that the women "had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities" (Luke 8:2), but aside from mentioning Mary Magdalene's former demonization, he does not specify which women Jesus healed from which infirmities. While Luke names three women specifically, he also notes that there were "many others."
The next is Joanna. She is also mentioned with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb and as one of several who told the Twelve that Jesus had risen (Luke 24:10). Her position in society is less clear. She is married to Chuza. Chuza's role as "household manager" –"steward" in NASB—is unclear. The Greek root word is from "permission" or "commission." So, Chuza had some authority over Herod Antipas's court. Scholars posit he was the steward over Herod's household.
Even less is known about Susanna, and she is not mentioned, at least by name, outside of this verse. She is not related to the apocryphal book Susanna, since that was written about a woman in the time of Daniel. That Joanna is identified by her husband, whereas Mary and Susanna are not, suggests the latter two are either unmarried or their husbands are not well known in the church.
They provided for them out of their means. "Provided" uses the same Greek root as "serve [tables]" in Acts 6:2 when the early church chose the first deacons. That doesn't mean the women are officially church deacons. Early manuscripts are divided as to whether the text says the women provide for Him or them. Matthew 27:55 and Mark 15:41 say the women minister to and follow Him. Whatever the language used, it appears Jesus and the disciples shared one money bag (John 12:6), so the funds went to all of them even if they were given in appreciation of just Jesus.
The Gospels and Acts mention several faithful women. Luke has already noted Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–45), Mary (Luke 1:26–38), Anna (Luke 2:36–38), and the sinful woman (Luke 7:37–50).4 Soon, he will include the woman with an issue of blood (Luke 8:43–48), and, in Acts, many of these same women (Acts 1:14), Tabitha (Acts 9:36–42), Mark's mother Mary (Acts 12:12), Lydia (Acts 16:11–15), Priscilla (Acts 18:24–26), and Philip's daughters (Acts 21:8–9).
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