Women Who Spread the Gospel

In the New Testament, women played significant roles in spreading the Gospel, showing that God's message of salvation was not limited by gender. One of the earliest and most powerful examples is the Samaritan woman at the well. In John 4, Jesus meets her at a well, and their conversation becomes a pivotal moment in the spread of the Gospel. After revealing Himself as the Messiah, the woman leaves her water jar, goes back to her town, and tells the people, "Come, see a man who told me all things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?"

As a result of her testimony, many Samaritans believed in Jesus. "And many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this one is indeed the Savior of the world’" (John 4:29, 41-42). Her story shows how a single encounter with Jesus can lead to the spread of the Gospel to an entire community.

Mary Magdalene, who is often misunderstood, was the first to witness Jesus' resurrection. After Jesus appeared to her, He gave her the crucial task of telling the disciples. "Jesus said to her, ‘Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’" (John 20:17). She immediately went and shared this good news, becoming the first to announce the resurrection to the disciples. Mary Magdalene’s role in spreading the Gospel is profound because she was the first witness to the greatest event in Christian history.

Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, was another key figure in spreading the Gospel. In Acts 18, we see that they both played a vital part in teaching and mentoring. When Apollos, an eloquent speaker, preached in Ephesus, he was only familiar with the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila took him aside "and explained to him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18:26). Their act of teaching Apollos shows that women like Priscilla were integral to the growth of the early church, both by their partnership in ministry and by directly contributing to the teaching of others.

Phoebe, a deacon in the church at Cenchreae, is another example of a woman who supported the spread of the Gospel. In Romans 16, Paul commends her, saying, "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchreae, that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well" (Romans 16:1-2). Though not specifically mentioned as preaching the Gospel, Phoebe’s support of Paul’s ministry and her leadership in the church was crucial for the spread of the message.

Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman from Thyatira, is another example of a woman who embraced the Gospel and helped spread it. In Acts 16, after hearing Paul’s message, Lydia and her household were baptized. "And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.' And she prevailed upon us" (Acts 16:15). By opening her home to Paul and his companions, Lydia played a key role in supporting the spread of Christianity in Europe.

These women are an example of how God used women in powerful ways to spread the Gospel. Their roles show that the message of salvation was not restricted by societal expectations or norms. From sharing personal testimony, to teaching others, to supporting missionaries, each of these women contributed significantly to the early church and the spread of the Gospel. They remind us that God values everyone, regardless of gender, and can use anyone to further His kingdom.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.”

I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.

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I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. (1 Timothy 1:12)