Luke 8:3

Luke 8:3. Joanna. Her name appears again in chap. Luke 24:10.

The wife, perhaps at that time a widow, of Chuzas Herod's steward, i.e., the ‘house-steward' of Herod Antipas. Through this family Herod and his servants (Matthew 14:2) might have heard of Jesus. Some have identified Chuzas with the ‘nobleman' whose son was healed by our Lord (John 4:46-54); but the reason for Joanna's gratitude was that she had herself been healed (Luke 8:2).

Susanna (‘lily'). Not mentioned again.

And many others. Comp. Matthew 27:55.

Who ministered. All of them were such as thus ‘ministered,' i.e.. provided food and other necessary attentions.

Unto them (the better supported reading), i.e.. to the whole company. The alteration to the singular was probably designed to exalt the service of the women; but what was done to the disciples was done to Christ, according to His own words (Matthew 25:40).

From their substance. This implies that some, perhaps most of them, were persons of means.

Our Lord confided in the purity and faithfulness of His Galilean friends; He exalted women into the circle of His followers; woman's work was at once a service of grateful love (a diaconate); these women of high position felt that constant temporal service was a fitting, though insufficient, return for spiritual benefits. Such a circle as this is possible only where Christ is; about Him as the centre, gather preaching men and ministering women in purity and harmony.