Luke 8:3
“and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them from their possessions.”
What does Luke 8:3 mean?
Luke is naming some of the women who traveled with Jesus and supported his ministry out of their own resources. What makes this detail striking is that these weren't poor or powerless women—Joanna was married to someone in Herod's household, which meant she had wealth and social standing. Yet she chose to use that privilege to follow Jesus and contribute to his work. This tells us something important about what following Jesus looked like from the beginning: people from different backgrounds, including those with means, gave generously of what they had. These women weren't passive spectators in the gospel story either—they were active participants who made real sacrifices to be part of what Jesus was doing. Luke's care in naming them reminds us that their contribution mattered and was worth remembering.