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Luke 23:49
ESV And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
NIV But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
NASB And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
CSB But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
NLT But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
KJV And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
NKJV But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

What does Luke 23:49 mean?

At some point while Jesus suffered on the cross, His mother Mary, her sister Salome, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood nearby with the apostle John. Jesus told His mother to look to John for her care and told John to treat Mary like his own mother (John 19:25–27). Whether because of the crowds, or the soldiers, or because the stress became too much, the women moved, still in visible range but a safer distance away.

It's no surprise that the women are there; it was women who financially supported Jesus' ministry (Luke 8:1–3). They hold a rare and precious position in their culture: they are female disciples.

Matthew mentions "the mother of the sons of Zebedee" while Mark mentions Salome; it's believed she is the same person, Mary's sister (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25). Joseph in Matthew is Joses in Mark; James the Younger is also called "James the Less" (Mark 15:40) and the son of Alphaeus, one of Jesus' disciples (Matthew 10:2–3). It is Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Alphaeus, and Salome who will bring spices to anoint Jesus' body (Mark 16:1).

There are two glaring absences: Martha and Mary of Bethany. They aren't mentioned again after Mary anoints Jesus six days before the crucifixion (John 12:1–8). Shortly before that event, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The people were so in awe that many believed in Him, leading the Sanhedrin to redouble their efforts to destroy Him (John 11). In fact, it got so bad that they decided to kill the proof of Jesus' power: Lazarus (John 12:9–11). Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are not mentioned at the crucifixion, resurrection, or in the book of Acts. It may be that they're in hiding.

We don't know who these "acquaintances" are. Most of the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26:56). Peter left after he denied he followed Jesus (Luke 22:62). The acquaintances may include Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:50) and Nicodemus (John 19:39) and perhaps the two disciples Jesus meets after His resurrection (Luke 24:13).
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