There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
Anna’s husband had died seven years after their marriage, and she had remained a widow since then to her present age of 84. Luke contains about 43 references to women, four of whom were widows (Luke 2:36-40; Luke 7:11-15; Luke 18:1-8; Luke 21:1-4). Anna was a widow who had devoted herself to the worship and service of God in the temple (cf. 1 Timothy 5:5). Luke again recorded God’s providential timing in bringing this godly woman to Jesus then (cf. Luke 2:27). As Simeon, she was anticipating God’s deliverance of Israel through Messiah (cf. Luke 2:25). Luke used "Jerusalem" figuratively (i.e., metonymy) for Israel (cf. Isaiah 52:9). God gave Anna insight into Jesus’ identity. The godly in Jerusalem undoubtedly learned about Messiah’s birth from Simeon and Anna (cf. Luke 1:68).