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THE KING’S BUSINESS
they besought him that he would (rather, to) tarry (rather, abide or continue) with them.' And he abode (or, continued) there two days.” This verse indicates the extent of the Samaritans’ faith up to this time. Through the testimony of the woman, who kept on testifying, “ He told me all things that I did,” they had so much faith in Him that they wished Him to continue with them that they might, hear more of His teaching, they were not willing that He should leave them. Though our Lord’s mis sion up to the time of His death was primarily to the Jews, He yielded to the entreaties of these hungry souls. He saw in them a capacity for faith that made them Israelites indeed (cf. Matthew 15:21-28, especially v. 28). The attitude of the Samaritans to ward our Lord was very different from that o f the Jews, for all their exalted privileges it is never recorded of them that they besought Him to remain, though it is recorded that they besought Him to depart (Mat thew 8 :34), and it is even said of them in one place that they drove Him out with murderous violence (Luke 4:29) and they constantly plot ted against Him and sought to de stroy Him. It was not the brief stay of two days which He granted them that they sought, they asked that He would “ abide” or continue with them, i. e. make His home among them. It has been remarked that “ the home of these grateful Samaritans can still be identified, while Capernaum and Bethsaida (which saw His miracles but rejectee Him) have wholly disappeared.” What occurred during these two days of our Lord’s stay with them we are not told except that He taught them, but the details o f His teaching are not given. This is one o f many indi cations in the Gospel narratives of how fragmentary are the accounts of
tans of that city believed, on him (rather, and out of that city many believed on him of the Samaritans) for the saying (rather, because of the word) of the woman, which (rather, who) testified, (omit, and add that) he told me all (add, the things) that ever (omit, ever) I did.” We have here an illustration of the tremendous power of earnest testi mony, even the testimony of one whose past has been sadly blackened and dishonored by sin. It is impos sible for any one to calculate the im measurable results of the faithful word of testimony. It is said that an illustrious scholar, Junius, who had been an infidel, became a mighty de fender of the faith through being con verted by a conversation with a farm er near Florence. Countless instances of a similar character could be found. It was not merely through the wom an’s statement that Jesus had “ told her all things that she did” that these Samaritans were brought to faith but “ because o f the Word,” that is, the whole testimony, of the woman who had testified that the Lord had told her all things that she did. Her per sistent testimony led many to come to Christ. The Greek form of the verb translated “ testified” indicates a continuous and persistent testimony. It was "as (or, while) she (earnestly and constantly) testified,” that they believed. In other, words,' she did not testify once for all and quit, she kept on testifying until her word was ef fective. Here is an important lesson for us all. 10. The Faith of Many Samaritans in the Lord Jesus that He was the Saviour of the World, Growing out of their Hearing Him Themselves, 40-42. V. 40. “ So when the Samaritans were come (rather, came) unto him,
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