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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 4:1-3

We read of Christ's coming into Judea (John 3:22), after he had kept the feast at Jerusalem; and now he left Judea four months before harvest, as is said here (John 4:35); so that it is computed that he staid in Judea about six months, to build upon the foundation John had laid there. We have no particular account of his sermons and miracles there, only in general, John 4:1. I. That he made disciples; he prevailed with many to embrace his doctrine, and to follow him as a teacher come from God.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 4:1-9

4:1-9 So when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although it was not Jesus himself who was in the habit of baptizing but his disciples), he quilted Judaea and went away again to Galilee. Now he had to pass through Samaria. He came to a town of Samaria, called Sychar, which is near the piece of ground which Jacob gave to Joseph, his son, and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, tired from the journey, was sitting by the well... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 4:1

When therefore our Lord knew ,.... Or Jesus, as some copies, as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read; who is Lord of all, Lord of lords, the one and only Lord of saints: and who knew all things as God; every man, and what is in man; who would believe in him, and who not, and who would betray him; he knew his adversaries, what they thought, said, or did; what was told them, and how it operated in them; and what were the secret motions of their hearts, and their most... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:1

Jesus made and baptized, etc. - These seem to be quoted as the very words which were brought to the Pharisees; and, from our Lord's conduct after this information, we may take it for granted that they were so irritated that they were determined to seek an occasion to take away his life; in consequence of which, leaving Judea, he withdrew into Galilee. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:1

Verse 1 1.When, therefore, the Lord knew. The Evangelist, intending now to give an account of the conversation which Christ had with a Samaritan woman, begins with explaining the cause of his journey. Knowing that the Pharisees were ill-disposed towards him, he did not wish to expose himself to their anger before the proper time. This was his motive for setting out from Judea. The Evangelist thus informs us that Christ did not come into Samaria with the intention of dwelling there, but because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-2

When therefore the Lord £ —a few occasions are found in the Gospels where this appellative, without any proper name, is used for Jesus ( John 6:23 ; John 11:2 ; Luke 10:1 ; Luke 17:5 ; Luke 22:61 ), and on these occasions some special suggestion is made of the Divine rank and personality of Jesus— knew that the Pharisees heard; i.e. were taking notice, after their wont, with secret machination and with open hostility, of the course which he was pursuing. The treatment which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-6

(1) The contrast between Jewish unsusceptibility and Samaritan pre-disposition to faith. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-6

The journey of our Lord through Sumatra. We are now to see the firstfruits of Gentile conversion. I. CONSIDER THE CAUSE OF CHRIST 'S DEPARTURE FROM JUDEA TO GALILEE . "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, he left Judaea and departed again into Galilee." 1 . The anger of the Pharisees was roused by the greater success of Jesus. "All men were coming to him" ( John 3:26 ), to be his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-42

7. The ministry and revelation of the Lord to those beyond the strict compass of the theocracy. This passage describes an incident of consummate interest, and records a specimen of our Lord's intercourse with individuals, and the reaction of that instruction upon the disciples. The event is a solitary chink through which the light of historical fact falls upon an otherwise darkened and unknown period of the Saviour's life. When we skirt a forest we see at intervals, where by some... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 4:1

The Lord knew - When Jesus knew. how he knew this we are not informed; whether by that power of omniscience by which he knew all things, or whether some person had informed him of it.How the Pharisees had heard - The Pharisees, here, seem to denote either the members of the Sanhedrin or those who were in authority. They claimed the authority to regulate the rites and ceremonies of religion, and hence they supposed they had a right to inquire into the conduct of both John and our Lord. They had... read more

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