%9.— [Many... Samaritans... believed.] About the exact nature of the belief mentioned here and in the 41st verse, we have no mate- rials for forminpr an opinion. Whether it was only an intellec tual belief that Christ was the Messiah, or whether it was that true faith of the heart which justifies a sinner betore Grod, we are left to conjecture. The more probable opinion appears to be that it was true faith, though very weak and unintelligent, like that of the apostles themselves. It is a strong confirmation of this view, that when Philip, after the day of Pentecost, went down to Samaria and preached Christ, his preaching was received with joy, and many were baptized, both men and women. (Acts viii. 5 — 12.) The Gospel was received without prejudice, and em- braced at once as an acknowledged truth.
[For....saying... .woman... testified, c&c] These words show the importance of merely human testimony to Christ's Gospel. The word of one weak woman was made the instrumental means of behef to many souls. There was nothing remarkable in the woman's word. It contained no elaborate reasoning, and no striking eloquence. It was only a hearty, earnest testimony of a believing heart. Yet God was pleased to use it to the conver- sion of souls. We must never despise the use of means. If the woman had not spoken, the Samaritans would not have been converted. — Above all, we must never despise means because of their apparent weakness, feebleness, and inaptness to do good. God can make the weakest instruments powerful to pull down the strongholds of sin and Satan, just as He made David's sling and stone prevail over Goliah.
Theophylact points out that the Samaritan woman's past wicked life was well known to her fellow-citizens, and that their atten- tion must have been aroused by her publicly proclaiming that she had found One who knew her former life, although a stranger. They rightly concluded that He must be no common person.
Melancthon remarks that the belief which resulted from the testimony of a woman in this case, is a clear proof that it is not absolutely necessary to have regular ministerial orders, in order to do good to souls, and that episcopal orders are not absolutely- needful in order to give effect to the word when spoken.
iO. — [So ivhen... Samaritans... come.. .besought.Jarry, cfec] The desire nf the Samaritans for instruction is shown in this verse, and the willingness of Christ to assist inquirers is strikingly exhibited. He waits to be entreated. If we have Him not abiding with us, it is because we do not ask Him. The two disciples journeying to Emmaus would have missed a great privilege if they had not said, " Abide with us." (Luke xxiv. 29.)
Ferus on this verse remarks the wide difference between the Samaritans and the Gergesenes. The Gergesenes prayed our
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Lord to " depart " from them, the Samaritans to " tarry " with them. (Matt. viii. 34.)
[He abode.. .two days.] We can only suppose that these two days were spent m teaching and preaching the G-ospel. One would like to know all that was thought and said in those two days. But it is an instance of the occasional " silences " of Scripture, which every attentive Bible-reader must have noticed. The first thirty years of our Lord's life at Nazareth, — the way in which St. Paul speut his time in Arabia, — and his employment during his two years' imprisonment in Cassarea, are similar silences. (G-al. i. 17 ; Acts xxiv. 27.)
It is an interesting fact which has been observed by some writers, that at this very day, Nablous and its neighbourhood, occupying the site of Samaria and Sychar, are in a more flourish- ing and prosperous condition than almost any place in Palestine. While Capernaum, and Chorazin, and Bethsaida, which rejected Christ, have almost entirely passed away, Samaria, which believed and received Him, flourishes still.
il. — [Mamj more believed.. ..own luord.] This verse shows the sovereignty of Grod in saving souls. One is called in one way and another in another. Some Samaritans believed when they heard the woman testify. Others did not beheve till they he^ird Christ Himself. — We must be careful that we do not bind down the Holy Ghost to one mode of operation. The experience of saved souls ofien differs widely. If people are brought to re- pentance and faith in Christ, we must not be stumbled because they are not all brought in the same way.
Olshausen remarks on this verse, " Here is a rare instance in which t'le ministry of the Lord produced an awakening on a lai ge scale. Ordinarily we find that a few individuals only were aroused b}^ Him, and that these, like grains of seed, scattered here and the. e, became the germs of a new and higher order of things among the people at large."
42. — [Ax»w; we beIieve....not....thy saying.] The Greek words so rendered would be translated more literally, "Not any longer because of thy saying do we believe."
Calvin thinks that the Greek word here rendered " saying," means literally, " talk or talkativeness," and that " the Samari- tans appear to boast that they have now a stronger foundation than a woman's tongue." In the only other three places where it is used, it is translated "speech." (Matt. xxvi. 73; Mark xiv. 70; John viii. 43.)
[This is indeed.... Christ... Saviour.. ..world.] The Greek words BO rendered would be translated more literally, ''This is the Sayiour of the world, the Christ."
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