Jesus, during his earthly ministry, indeed had female disciples, although they were not explicitly listed among the Twelve Apostles. Let’s look into this further:

Jesus chose twelve Jewish men as his apostles, signaling a new start for God’s people (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30).

The Larger Group of Disciples:
However, the Twelve were a subset of Jesus’s disciples.
Luke explains that this larger group included many women. After a night of prayer, Jesus “called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles” (Luke 6:13).
So, what about the larger group of disciples who traveled with Jesus? Luke makes it clear that this larger group included many women.

Luke notes that many of the women who traveled with Jesus had been healed by him—whether physically or spiritually—and that his ministry was supported financially by his female followers.

Here are some insights about these remarkable women:

Mary Magdalene:
Mary Magdalene is perhaps the most famous of Jesus’s female disciples.
She was healed of seven demons and followed Jesus faithfully.
Mary Magdalene was the first to witness the empty tomb after Jesus’s resurrection (Mark 16:1–3).
Later, Jesus commissioned her as the “Apostle to the Apostles”, sending her to testify to his resurrection.

Joanna:
Joanna, the wife of Chuza (Herod’s household manager), was another devoted follower.
She traveled with Jesus and supported his ministry financially (Luke 8:1–3).

Susanna:
Susanna was also part of the group of women who followed Jesus.
Like Joanna and Mary Magdalene, she contributed to Jesus’s ministry out of her means.

Other Unnamed Women:
Luke mentions that there were “many others” who supported Jesus in similar ways.
These women were active members of the ministry, both financially and spiritually.

Legacy and Influence:
These female disciples played essential roles in spreading the gospel. Their unwavering faith, witness to the resurrection, and financial support left a lasting impact.