And certain women which had been healed of evil spirits,.... Of devils, who had possessed them, and were healed by Christ, dispossessing them; See Gill on "Lu 7:21".and infirmities: various diseases of body: some were dispossessed of devils, and others freed from bodily disorders; of the first sort wasMary Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils: by the order of Christ, for he cast them out, Mr 16:9 and which shows, that this is to be understood, in a literal sense, of devils, and the dispossession of them by Christ; and not in a figurative sense, of vices, and the expulsion of them by the power of divine grace; for this same phrase is used where real dispossessions are intended: nor need it be thought strange that seven devils should be in one person, when, in this same chapter, we read of a legion in one man, and which also Christ cast out, Lu 8:30.
This woman seems to be a different person from her spoken of in the latter part of the preceding chapter, seeing this looks as if it was the first time of her being taken notice of by this evangelist, and is described by a different character.
She is called "Magdalene", to distinguish her from others of the same name; the reason of which See Gill on "Mt 27:56". She is said to be a widow, and so not being bound to an husband, was at leisure to follow Christ.
Jerom in Mar. xv.