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Issues

1. Afterward
   1. Summer of 28 AD
   2. After ministry in the Capernaum area of Galilee since Spring of 28 AD
      1.  Soon afterwards (en tôi kathexês). In Lu 7:11 we have en tôi hexês. This word means one after the other, successively, but that gives no definite data as to the time, only that this incident in Lu 8:1-3 follows that in Lu 7:36-50. Both in Luke alone. Robertson's NT Word Pictures
2. Travel through every city and village
   1. This is the second tour of Galilee, this time the Twelve with him.  Robertson's NT Word Pictures
   2. A general account of Christ's preaching, and how he had subsistence for himself and his numerous family by the charitable contributions of good people.  Matthew Henry's Commentary
   3. The places where Christ and his apostles preached, not only in the populous cities, but in the poor country villages: They went through every city and village preaching the gospel. Some will preach the gospel, provided they may preach at court, or in the capital cities of the nation; but the poor country villages are overlooked by them. William Burkitt's Notes on the Gospel
3. Preaching and showing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God
   1.  What he preached: He showed the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, that it was now to be set up among them. Tidings of the kingdom of God are glad tidings, and those Jesus Christ came to bring; to tell the children of men that God was willing to take all those under his protection that were willing to return to their allegiance. It was glad tidings to the world that there was hope of its being reformed and reconciled. Matthew Henry's Commentary
   2. John had preached repentance as a preparation for the kingdom; but Jesus now appears to have preached the kingdom itself, which was indeed to bring good tidings (Ro 14:17). The Fourfold Gospel
4. The Twelve were with him
   1. The twelve were now serving an apprenticeship in that work on which he would soon send them forth alone. From this time forth we can hardly look upon Capernaum as the home of Jesus. From now to the end of his ministry his life was a wandering journey, and he and his apostles sustained by the offerings of friends. The Fourfold Gospel
5. Certain women were with him who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities
   1. Women
      1.  That these women should attend the footsteps of Christ was opposed to the custom of Palestine. The admixture of the sexes was not common. The rabbis held that the law should not be taught to women.  People's New Testament Commentary
      2. That women did make up a considerable number of Christ's followers, yes, and of his apostles' followers too: The devout women not a few. Ac 17:4  William Burkitt's Notes
      3. The holy courage and resolution of our Saviour's female followers. No doubt they met with taunts and jeers, with scoffs and scorns enough, and perhaps from their husbands too, of following the carpenter's son, and a few fishermen: but this does not damp but inflame, their zeal. William Burkitt's Notes
      4. At our Saviour's trail, the women clave to him, when his disciples fed from him; they accompanied him to his cross, they assisted at his funeral, they attended his hearse to the grave, they watched his sepulchre, fearing neither the darkness of the night nor the rudeness of the soldiers.  William Burkitt's Notes
      5. We should note how Jesus began to remove the fetters of custom which bound women, and to bring about a condition of universal freedom (Ga 3:28).   The Four-Fold Gospel
   2. Mary Magdalene, out of who seven devils had been cast
      1.  Mary's name indicates that she was a native of Magdala (Hebrew, Migdol, that is, "watch-tower"). Of all the towns which dotted the shores of Galilee in Christ's day, but this and Tiberias remain. It is on the west shore of the lake, at the southeast corner of the plain of Gennesaret, and is to-day a small collection of mud hovels. It still bears the name el-Mejdel, which is probably received from the adjoining watch-tower that guarded the entrance to the plain, the ruins of which are still to be seen.  The Fourfold Gospel
      2. Amongst the number of those that did accompany our Saviour and his apostles, mention is here made of a certain woman, who had been healed by Christ of evil spirits and infirmities; that is, of spiritual and corporeal diseases, for the Jews were wont to call vices and evil habits by the name of devils, as the devil of pride, the devil of malice, etc. William Burkitt's Notes
      3. Or Mary of Magdala, a town in Galilee: probably the person mentioned in the last chapter.  John Wesley Notes
      4.  It is a great wrong to this honored woman to identify her with the once profligate woman of Lu 7:37, and to call all such penitents Magdalenes. The mistake has arisen from confounding unhappy demoniacal possession with the conscious entertainment of diabolic impurity, or supposing the one to have been afflicted as a punishment for the other--for which there is not the least scriptural ground.  Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
      5. Mary Magdalene is commonly thought to have been a prostitute before she came to the knowledge of Christ, and then to have been a remarkable penitent. So historians and painters represent her: but neither from this passage, nor from any other of the New Testament, can such a supposition be legitimately drawn. She is here represented as one who had been possessed with seven demons; and as one among other women who had been healed by Christ of evil (or wicked) spirits and infirmities.  Adam Clarke Commentary
   3.  Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward
      1.  Herod Antipas, who reigned in Galilee. He was a son of Herod the Great. The word steward means one who has charge of the domestic affairs of a family, to provide for it. This office was generally held by a slave who was esteemed the most faithful, and was often conferred as a reward of fidelity. Albert Barnes' NT Commentary
      2. Her husband Chuzâ, steward (epitropou) of Herod, is held by some to be the nobleman (basilikos) of Joh 4:46-53 who believed and all his house. At any rate Christ had a follower from the household of Herod Antipas who had such curiosity to see and hear him. One may recall also Manaen (Ac 13:1), Herod's foster brother. Joanna is mentioned again with Mary Magdalene in Lu 24:10. Robertson's NT Word Pictures
   4. Susanna
      1. Of "Susanna," next mentioned, we know nothing but the name, and that here only. But her services on this memorable occasion have immortalized her name.  Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
   5. Many others
   6. Ministered to him of their substance