Disciple · NT
Mary Magdalene
A devoted follower of Jesus from whom he cast out seven demons and the first person to witness the resurrection.
Mary, identified by her hometown Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, is introduced in Luke 8:2 as a woman from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons. From that liberation forward she became a steady financial supporter and traveling disciple of his ministry, listed first among the women who provided for him out of their means.
She stood at the cross when most of the male disciples had scattered (John 19:25), watched where Jesus' body was laid, and returned to the tomb on the first day of the week to anoint him. There the risen Christ spoke her name — and entrusted to her the first apostolic commission of the resurrection: 'go and tell my brothers' (John 20:17).
Later Christian tradition often conflated her with the sinful woman of Luke 7 and Mary of Bethany; the gospels themselves keep these three distinct.
Key moments
Delivered of seven demons
Jesus frees her at the start of his Galilean ministry (Luke 8:2).
Patron of Jesus' ministry
Supports the disciples financially as they travel (Luke 8:3).
At the cross and the tomb
Remains when others flee; watches the burial (John 19:25; Mark 15:47).
First to see the risen Christ
Commissioned to announce the resurrection (John 20:11-18).
Key verses
"And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance."
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"And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee."
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"These things therefore the soldiers did. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene."
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"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher. Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God. Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and that he had said these things unto her."
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Frequently asked
Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute?
The New Testament never describes Mary Magdalene as a prostitute. That association comes from a sixth-century homily by Pope Gregory I, which fused her with the sinful woman of Luke 7 and Mary of Bethany. The Roman Catholic Church formally corrected the error in 1969.
Was Mary Magdalene married to Jesus?
There is no historical or biblical evidence of this. The claim comes from later legend and modern fiction, not from the gospels, the apostolic fathers, or any first-century source.
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