John 4:40

40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days.

John 4:40 Meaning and Commentary

John 4:40

So when the Samaritans were come unto him
The Ethiopic version reads, all the Samaritans; they came to him at Jacob's well, upon the woman's solicitations, and the account she gave of this extraordinary person: and after they had conversed with him, and heard him themselves, they were taken with his divine discourses, and being thoroughly persuaded that he was the Messiah,

they besought him that he would tarry with them;
they were not like the Gergesenes, who besought him to depart out of their coasts as soon he was in them: but these men were delighted with his company; and notwithstanding his being a Jew, desired a conversation with him, and entreated that he would go along with them to their city, and stay with them:

and he abode there two days;
he went with them to Sychar. He would not deny their request, lest they should be discouraged; and yet would not make any long stay with them, that he might give no umbrage to the Jews; though it is very likely from this short stay in Samaria, they afterwards reproached him as a Samaritan, ( John 8:48 ) . Our Lord's direction to his disciples not to enter into any of the cities of the Samaritans, was not a rule to himself, or binding upon him, and was only a rule to them "pro tempore".

John 4:40 In-Context

38 I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have worked, and you have entered into their work."

39 Now from that town many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything that I have done."

40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days.

41 And many more believed because of his word,

42 And they were saying to the woman, "No longer because of {what you said} do we believe, for we ourselves have heard, and we know that this one is truly the Savior of the world!"

Footnotes

• [a]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began asking")