Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's striking that Luke highlights Joanna by name, noting she was a follower who had ministered to Jesus. This detail suggests she wasn't just another witness, but possibly a key figure entrusted with delivering this monumental news to the stunned apostles.
Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The women who discovered the empty tomb, led by Mary Magdalene, rushed to tell the apostles the astonishing news that Jesus was alive. Even though they had been commanded by angels to share this message, the apostles initially dismissed their words as fanciful tales, failing to grasp the significance of the resurrection. It was only after Peter, spurred by the women's report, went to the tomb himself and saw the empty burial cloths that he began to marvel at what had happened.
Luke doesn't just list names; he highlights specific women who were at the heart of the resurrection news. Why these women, and why are they named?
In Luke's Gospel, the resurrection accounts put women in a pivotal role. This verse names Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, along with other unnamed women. These weren't just random followers; they were devoted disciples who had journeyed with Jesus.
Joanna, for example, is known from Luke 8:3 to be the wife of Herod's steward, indicating she was likely a woman of some means who supported Jesus' ministry. Mary Magdalene is emphasized by all the Gospels as a primary witness, known for her deep devotion and being the first to see the risen Christ according to John's Gospel.
Luke specifically highlights Joanna again here, suggesting she might have been a key informant. By naming these women, Luke elevates their witness and shows that God chose those on the margins of society (women, in that culture) to announce the most significant event in history.
The apostles didn't immediately believe the women's report of the resurrection. What does this reveal about their state of mind and the challenge of radical news?
The immediate reaction of the apostles to the women's report was disbelief. Luke tells us in verse 11 that "these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them." This wasn't just a minor oversight; it highlights the profound shock and grief the disciples were experiencing after Jesus' crucifixion.
Their faith had been shaken to its core. They were mourning and weeping, likely feeling that their hopes were crushed. In this state, the idea of resurrection seemed impossible, even fanciful. It took direct encounters with the risen Jesus himself to convince them.
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This dynamic is crucial: the women, who had just experienced direct encounters and angelic messages, were sent to deliver the news to those who hadn't yet seen. Their testimony was the first bridge across the chasm of doubt, even though it wasn't immediately accepted.
Understand the original words
apostolois · Greek Noun
The twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to be His primary witnesses, who were sent out with the authority of Christ to proclaim the Gospel and establish the foundation of the early church.
This moment highlights a crucial, yet often overlooked, transition: the first witnesses to the resurrection were women, tasked with delivering the most astounding news in history to the male apostles, who initially struggled to believe them.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified by Roman authorities and buried in a tomb.
c. AD 30, First Day of the Week— this verse
Discovery of the Empty Tomb
Women disciples, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, discover Jesus' tomb is empty.
c. AD 30, First Day of the Week
Women Report Resurrection to Apostles
The women share the news of the empty tomb and Jesus' appearance to them with the male apostles.
c. AD 30-33
Early Church Formation
Following Jesus' resurrection and ascension, the apostles begin to preach and establish the Christian church.
This passage describes the same event of the women leaving the tomb and going to tell the disciples, highlighting their mixed emotions of fear and joy as they obeyed the angelic message.
Mark 16:10Mark's Gospel also recounts Mary Magdalene reporting the resurrection to the disciples, though the disciples' disbelief is more emphasized here, showing the challenge of accepting such astounding news.
John 20:18John's Gospel focuses on Mary Magdalene's direct report to the disciples after seeing the risen Christ, emphasizing her role as a primary witness to the resurrection.
Luke 8:2-3This earlier passage introduces Joanna and other women as followers who had been healed by Jesus and provided for his ministry, establishing their dedication and connection to him.
clarkeLuke 24:10: "It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles."
And Joanna - She was the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward. See Luke 8:3 .
bengelLuke 24:10: "It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles."
Luke 24:10 . ἦν — αἱ ) So [a Plural nominative follows after a Singular verb and nominative, the verb Plural being supplied from the Singular verb] Deuteronomy 27:9 , καὶ ἐλάλησε Μωϋσῆς καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς — λέγοντες . So 1 Corinthians 9:6 .[269] The names are given in this place in particular, as being those of the witnesses to the fact, and n…
It's striking that Luke highlights Joanna by name, noting she was a follower who had ministered to Jesus. This detail suggests she wasn't just another witness, but possibly a key figure entrusted with delivering this monumental news to the stunned apostles.
The women who discovered the empty tomb, led by Mary Magdalene, rushed to tell the apostles the astonishing news that Jesus was alive. Even though they had been commanded by angels to share this message, the apostles initially dismissed their words as fanciful tales, failing to grasp the significance of the resurrection. It was only after Peter, spurred by the women's report, went to the tomb himself and saw the empty burial cloths that he began to marvel at what had happened.
The women who discovered the empty tomb, led by Mary Magdalene, rushed to tell the apostles the astonishing news that Jesus was alive. Even though they had been commanded by angels to share this message, the apostles initially dismissed their words as fanciful tales, failing to grasp the significance of the resurrection. It was only after Peter, spurred by the women's report, went to the tomb himself and saw the empty burial cloths that he began to marvel at what had happened.
"Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles," — It's striking that Luke highlights Joanna by name, noting she was a follower who had ministered to Jesus. This detail suggests she wasn't just another witness, but possibly a key figure entrusted wit…
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Last reviewed October 2026