Not all of Jesus’ disciples were men, there were women who considered him their master and teacher as well. Some of them were with Jesus through much of his earthly ministry, and some of them were responsible for meeting his and the twelve disciples’ financial needs. Jesus’ inner ring of disciples, known in the gospels and the book of Acts as “the Twelve,” were also designated by him to be apostles, but others followed him closely, and some of them were women. Martha and her sister Mary were counted in that company.
