Israel had prophetesses as well as prophets. Anna was one of them. The temple courts were her home. It was her place of worship, prayer and fasting. She was a fixture there. All temple regulars would have known about her. In addition to her worship, she would often prophesy. She had lived with her husband seven years until he died and she was married to worshipping God and speaking for Him the rest of her life. On this one special day she gave her greatest sermon, a short message of thanksgiving for the arrival of redemption in Jesus.
“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38 (ESV)
