Luke 8:1-3

The Women Friends of Jesus (Lk. only). Nothing shows the originality of Jesus more than His attitude towards women. Lk. especially dwells on this both in the Gospel and in Ac, where we see how much the early Church owed to the gentler sex. It is possible that some of these women who showed their gratitude to the Healer by supporting His mission, were only secure against a return of their maladies as they continued in His company.

Luke 8:2. Magdalene: i.e. of Magdala (p. 29, cf. Matthew 15:39), then a flourishing town on the Lake of Galilee.

Luke 8:3. Joanna: Luke 24:10; cf. Introd. Chuza, Herod's steward: the overseer of Antipas's property, his estate manager.