How did the apostles react to what the women had to say?

Answer 1

We could probably get a pretty good idea of how the apostles reacted towards women by considering how their Master Jesus treated women; especially as contrasted with how women in general were treated in ancient history among some peoples. No doubt the apostles learned from their Master. After all they were his disciples.

• Hemmed in by rabbinic traditions, women living when Jesus was on earth were restricted from serving as witnesses in a legal case. The rabbis even said a prayer in which they thanked God that they were not women.

But Jesus treated women with dignity and respect.

• The first time that he openly declared himself to be the Messiah, it was to a woman who was not a Jew but a Samaritan, whom the Jews in general would disdain, much less greet.
• The only time Jesus is recorded as calling someone 'daughter' was the lady with the flow of blood for 12 years, who was considered ceremonially unclean, and should not have been in their presence, let alone touch Jesus. Yet he did not berate or scold her. He used this endearing statement: 'Daughter, your faith has made you well.'
• When Jesus was resurrected, Jesus could have appeared first to Peter, John, or one of the other male disciples. Instead, he dignified women by allowing them to be the first eyewitnesses of his resurrection.

  They were even assigned to tell the men (the apostles). Initially the men reacted: "These sayings appeared as nonsense to them and they would not believe the women." (Luke 24:11)

The apostle Peter observed firsthand the way Jesus dealt with women.

• Some 30 years later, Peter said that a husband's prayers could be hindered, depending on the way they treated their wives.
• The Apostle Paul reminded the congregation that in their heavenly calling: '. . . there is neither male nor female; for you are all one person in union with Christ Jesus." (Ga 3:26-28) These all must receive a change of nature at their resurrection, being made partakers together of "divine nature," in which state none will be women, for there is no female sex among spirit creatures, sex being God's means for reproduction of earthly creatures.
• While women were not appointed as overseers in the congregations; some were given to 'prophecy'. No doubt the menfolk listened.

  This is what I found. Hope it's helpful.