Chuzas
Steward of Herod Antipas
Chuzas is mentioned in Luke 8:3 as the steward (or manager) of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch who ruled Galilee and Perea during the ministry of Jesus. As steward, Chuzas would have overseen Herod's household affairs, managed finances, supervised servants, and handled the day-to-day operations of the royal estate. This was a position of considerable authority and trust, placing Chuzas among the elite of Galilean society.
Joanna: His Wife and Disciple of Jesus
Chuzas is known primarily because of his wife Joanna, who became one of Jesus's most devoted followers. Luke 8:2-3 describes how Joanna, along with Mary Magdalene, Susanna, and many other women, traveled with Jesus and the twelve disciples, "providing for them out of their means." These women used their personal resources to financially support Jesus's itinerant ministry — a remarkable act of devotion and generosity.
The fact that Joanna was the wife of Herod's steward makes her discipleship especially striking. She moved between two very different worlds: the court of the ruler who had imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist (Luke 9:9) and the traveling band of disciples following the prophet whom Herod found deeply unsettling. Her commitment to Jesus required considerable courage, as it could have jeopardized her husband's position and her family's standing.
Joanna at the Empty Tomb
Joanna appears again in Luke 24:10, where she is named as one of the women who went to Jesus's tomb on Easter morning and found it empty. The angels at the tomb told them to remember Jesus's words about his resurrection, and these women then carried the news to the apostles. Joanna was thus among the very first witnesses of the resurrection — a remarkable honor that underscores her faithfulness from the beginning of Jesus's ministry to its climactic moment.
What Chuzas's Position Reveals
The mention of Chuzas and his role provides important historical and social context for understanding Jesus's ministry. The gospel reached into every level of society, from the poorest fishermen to the household of the ruling tetrarch. The support of women like Joanna, who had access to significant financial resources, was practical and essential. It also shows that the early Jesus movement had connections to the political establishment, even as it proclaimed a kingdom that challenged earthly power.
A Household Touched by the Gospel
While Scripture does not tell us whether Chuzas himself became a follower of Jesus, the transformation of his wife Joanna into a devoted disciple must have had profound implications for their household. The early church would later meet in homes, and households where one spouse followed Christ while the other served a secular master became a recurring pattern in the spread of the gospel (1 Corinthians 7:12-16).
Biblical Context
Chuzas is mentioned only in Luke 8:3 as the husband of Joanna and the steward of Herod Antipas. Joanna appears again in Luke 24:10 as a witness to the empty tomb. The broader context of Luke 8:1-3 describes the women who supported Jesus's ministry, while Luke 24 narrates the resurrection discovery.
Theological Significance
Chuzas's connection to the narrative demonstrates that the gospel penetrated even the highest levels of political power. His wife Joanna's discipleship shows that following Jesus sometimes meant navigating conflicting loyalties between worldly position and kingdom commitment. The financial support provided by women like Joanna was essential to sustaining Jesus's ministry, highlighting the indispensable role of generous giving in God's work.
Historical Background
Herod Antipas ruled Galilee and Perea as tetrarch from 4 BC to 39 AD under Roman authority. His court at Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee was a center of Hellenistic culture. The role of steward (epitropos in Greek) was well attested in both Jewish and Greco-Roman households, equivalent to a chief of staff or estate manager. Archaeological excavations at Herodian sites like Machaerus and Tiberias have revealed the wealth and sophistication of Herod's establishments, providing context for the kind of household Chuzas managed.