welcomed women into the inner circle of his disciples.26 In both the Gospel and Acts, Luke notes the presence of female believers. Here he seems to go further, by suggesting that Mary set about studying, without explicitly saying that she did so with a view to carrying on a ministry. But we will have to return to that question after having discussed Martha’s “serving” (v. 40).27 ■ 40 After the harmonious and symmetrical presentation of Martha’s welcome and Mary’s listening, there comes a potentially