Of the maintenance of our Saviour and His apostles, we read only they had a purse, which was carried by Judas Iscariot; and that of the apostles, such as were fishermen did sometimes use their trade; and that when our Saviour sent the twelve apostles to preach, He forbad them ( Matt. 10:9⁠–⁠10) “to carry gold and silver and brass in their purses, for that the workman is worthy of his hire.” By which it is probable, their ordinary maintenance was not unsuitable to their employment; for their employment was (verse 8) “freely to give, because they had freely received”; and their maintenance was the “free gift” of those that believed the good tiding they carried about of the coming of the Messiah their Saviour. To which we may add, that which was contributed out of gratitude by such as our Saviour had healed of diseases; of which are mentioned (Luke 8:2⁠–⁠3), “Certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities; Mary Magdalen, out of whom went seven devils; and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance.”