What does Luke 8:1 mean?

Some scholars believe Jesus spent much of the previous chapter in a town called Nain in the south of the district of Galilee. If this is the case, He again picks up the itinerate lifestyle He promised the disciples (Luke 4:43) before making His way towards Jerusalem and the cross. As He travels, He continues to proclaim the good news that the kingdom of God is near, proving His words by healing and expelling demons.

The "kingdom of God," also called the "kingdom of heaven," is an important concept that can be hard to define because of its many facets. God's kingdom includes any manifestation of His sovereignty, power, and authority over creation. When His kingdom is "near," His authority is especially noticeable. In this context, that means that people listen to and accept what Jesus says about God, Himself, repentance, and the right way of living in light of God's authority. Jesus also brings the kingdom when He rescues people from the fallenness of injury, illness, and demonic activity. With Jesus' first coming, He inaugurated God's kingdom on earth; when He comes again, He will complete God's kingdom.

Jesus is not a conventional rabbi, and He attracts unconventional disciples. The Twelve include fishermen, a tax collector, a Zealot, and a traitor (Luke 6:12–16). This is not a very distinguished list, but Jesus keeps them close as He trains them to extend His message of good news (Luke 9:1–6) and sacrifice for Him (Luke 9:23–27, 57–62), and to go on to build the church (Acts 1—2). Even more surprising, however, are the women who support Jesus' ministry out of their own means (Luke 8:2–3).