Bible Strands
Luke 8:3
Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Luke narrates Jesus’ itinerant ministry, noting that healed women provided financial support to him and his disciples. This account occurs immediately before Jesus teaches the parable of the sower to a gathering crowd.
The words — The text highlights ἐπιτρόπου (epitropou), meaning steward or household manager, identifying Chuza’s official role in Herod’s administration. It also names Ἰωάννα (Iōanna) and Σουσάννα (Sousanna) as contributors who funded Jesus’ mission from their personal resources.
The thread — Financial support for ministry appears in Acts 9:36 through Tabitha’s works of kindness and Philippians 4:22 with gifts from Caesar’s household. The pattern of believers funding apostolic work parallels the grace described in 2 Corinthians 8:9.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to recognize that spiritual ministry depends on material provision from ordinary believers. It calls the audience to practical generosity rather than abstract devotion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
Cross-references
- Acts 9:36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
- 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
- Philippians 4:22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those from the household of Caesar.
- John 4:46 So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
- 1 Timothy 5:10 and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
- 1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
- Isaiah 23:18 Yet her profits and wages will be set apart to the LORD; they will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothing.
- Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
- Matthew 25:40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- Matthew 26:11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.