CHAP. IV.
1. WHen therefore [the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples] then John,
[Paraphrase] 1. Christ knew that the Pharisees heard of his recei∣ving more proselytes by that ceremony of baptisme or washing.
2. Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,
3. He left Judea] and departed again into Galilee.
[Paraphrase] 3. Considering the danger that this might bring upon him from the Sanhedrim of the Jewes, it being not yet the fit season for him to leave the world, till he had farther disseminated his doctrine, he left Judea for a time.
4. And he must needs goe through Samaria.]
[Paraphrase] 4. And Samaria was in his way.
5. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, neer to the parcell of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
6. Now Jacob's well was there: Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey, sate [note a] thus* on the well: and it was about the sixt houre.]
[Paraphrase] 6. In this place was the well which Iacob once digged, on which occasion Iesus being weary of travaile sate down close by it on the ground, and it was about twelve of the clock, mid-day.
7. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water, Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
8. For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.
9. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jewes have no [dealings] with the Samaritanes.
[Paraphrase] 9. commerce or commu∣nication of familiarity
10. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest [the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee [note b] living water.]
[Paraphrase] 10. what a mercy & boun∣ty of God is now designed thee, and who it is that made that request to thee, on purpose that thou mightst be partaker of a farre greater gift, thou wouldst not have startled at this request, but have made advantage of it to ask, and he would certainly have given thee that fountain-water, of a divine special quality, which would have yielded thee eternall life.
11. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep, from whence then hast thou that living water?
12. Art thou greater then [our father Jacob,] which gave us the well, and drank' thereof himself, and his children, and his cattel?
[Paraphrase] 12. Iacob, from whom we Samaritans professe to receive our religion (and therefore refuse to goe up to Ierusalem, which Moses, later then he, commanded.)
13. Jesus answered and said unto her, [Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again,]
[Paraphrase] 12. It is the nature of this ordinary water to quench thirst for a small time, but then constantly that thirst within a small time returns again, and so there is continuall need of supply,
14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.]
[Paraphrase] 14. But that which I mean by water, and which upon thy bare petition I am ready to give thee, v. 10. will so refresh, that he shall never thirst again that drinketh of it, It shall be within himself a perpetually flowing fountain that of its own accord shall yield him daily refreshment here, and never cease till it end in everlasting life and blisse.
15. The woman] saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, nei∣ther come hitherto draw.
[Paraphrase] 15. As yet the woman un∣derstood not his meaning, but applying it grosly to corporall thirst, she
16. Jesus] saith unto her, Goe call thy husband, and come hither.
[Paraphrase] 16. And therefore to work more sense in her, Iesus meaning to give her knowledge in some degree that he was the Messias, by discovering some acts and evidences of his omniscience,
17. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband.
18. For thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast, is not thine husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive [thou art a prophet.]
[Paraphrase] 19. thou canst reveal the secrets of ones life, hast prophetick knowledge, If so, then I pray tell me, or satisfie me in this difficulty.
22. Our Fathers worshipped in this mountain, and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.]
[Paraphrase] 20. Iacob and the Patri∣arcks before the law (whose successors the Samaritans pretended to be, and so pleaded a greater antiquity for their schisme, then the Iewes had for their true worship, but this falsly, being indeed Assyrians, transplanted by Salmaneser into the cities of Samaria, when the tribe of Ephra∣im and the rest of the kingdome of Israel, which inhabited there, were by him carried into Assyria, 2 Kin. 17. 24.) worshipped in mount Ephraim at Shiloh, in the countrey of Samaria, where antiently the tabernacle and the ark of God were, long before the building of the temple at Ierusalem; And yet ye Iewes say that 'tis not lawfull to perform the solemn worship of God in any place but Ierusalem.
21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the houre cometh when [ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father.]
[Paraphrase] 21. the worship of God shall be so farre from being confined to this place, that it shall not be confined to Ierusalem it self, nay a desolation shall shortly overwhelm both.
22. Ye worship* ye know not what, we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jewes.
[Paraphrase] 22. Ye worship the God of the land, 2 Kin. 17. 26. with∣out any knowledge who that is, and your own Gods with him, We Iewes worship the eternall God of heaven, who hath revealed himself to us, For the speciall revelations of God, beyond that which other nations enjoy, belong to the Iewes, and so all man∣ner of advantages toward our eternall good.
23. But the houre cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: For the Father seeketh† such to worship him.]
[Paraphrase] 23. But now the time of Reformation approacheth, and God will be worshipped and obeyed neither in the Iudaicall rites, (which are oft called carnall, and consisted in externall perfor∣mances) nor according to the Samaritane false worship, who worshipt their own idols together with God. 2 Kin. 17. but in a pure spirituall manner extending to the very heart, and such as was typified by those shadows; and the son of God now comes to draw all men to this way of worship, to the Christian from the Iudaicall or Samaritane way. See note on Lu. 9. d.
Page 277 24. God is a Spirit, and [they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.]
[Paraphrase] 24. is especially delighted with the Christian worship, which is taught to joyn the soul with the externall performances, and to worship the true God now revealed by Christ, after that manner, wherein Christ reveals him.
25. The woman saith unto him, [I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ, when he is come, he will tell us all things.]
[Paraphrase] 25. This reformation thou talkest of, we know shall be wrought when the Messias or Christ comes, and him we doe expect.
26. Jesus saith unto her, [I that speak unto thee am he.]
[Paraphrase] 26. I am that Messias.
27. And upon this came his disciples, and marvailed that he talked with the woman; yet no man said, What seekest thou, or, Why talkest thou with her?]
[Paraphrase] 27. As he said this, the disciples came back from the city, v. 8. and thought it strange that he should thus discourse with this woman, yet no man was so curious as to ask him the reason, or require of him an account of this action.
28. The woman then left her water-pot, and went away into the city, and saith to the men.
29. Come see a man which told me [all things that ever I did: Is not this the Christ?]
[Paraphrase] 29. many things of my life, which were so secret, that it is not imaginable how he should know them, were he not the Messias.
30. Then [they] went out of the city, and came unto him.
[Paraphrase] 30. the people of Sychar
31. In the mean while his disciples [note c] prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
32. But he said unto them, [I have meat to eat that ye know not of.]
[Paraphrase] 32. I have somewhat to doe more valuable to me, then eating.
33. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34. Jesus saith unto them, [My meat is to doe the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.]
[Paraphrase] 34. My doing the office for which I was sent, is as plea∣sant and more necessary to me, then meat or drink.
35. * Say not ye, There are four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.]
[Paraphrase] 35. 'Tis not with my har∣vest as 'tis with that in the fields, four months yet to that time, Consider and ye shall see the great inclinations and forwardnesse of men to receive the Gospel, if it may be preached unto them.
36. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternall; that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth may rejoice together.]
[Paraphrase] 36. And they that will but goe out, and preach to them, shall receive reward for their pains, and by converting others advantage themselves eternally, and come to reap the fruits of all that seed, that the prophets &c. from all time have sowed.
37. † And herein is that saying true, One soweth and another reapeth.]
[Paraphrase] 37. So that to this may the proverb be applied, One soweth &c. that is, the prophets sowed this seed of the Gospel, in foretelling Christ's coming, and the Apostles they reap the harvest of converts to him.
38. I have sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour; other men la∣boured, and ye are entred into their labours.]
[Paraphrase] 38. The prophets have so prepar'd mens hearts to receive the Gospel, that there needs very little pains of yours, you may at first preaching of the Gospel reap a whole harvest of proselytes.
39. And many of the Samaritanes of that city believed on him, for the saying of the woman which testified, [He told me all that ever I did.]
[Paraphrase] 39. He told me the secrets of my life, which he being a stranger could not know, if he were a meer man.
40. So when the Samaritanes were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them, [and he abode there two daies.]
[Paraphrase] 40. And though Mat. 10. 5. he forbad his disciples at that time to goe into any city of the Samaritanes, (that they might make the Jewes see they were his peculiar care at that time) yet to shew that the Gospel was not their enclosure, he now himself staies with the Samaritans two daies, and preacheth the Gospel to them.
41. And many more* believed [because of his own words.]
[Paraphrase] 41. upon what they heard from him themselves.
42. And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him our selves, and know that this is indeed the [Christ, the Saviour of the world.]
[Paraphrase] 42. Messias that was to come to redeem the world.
43. Now after two daies he departed thence, and [went into Galilee.
44. For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his owne countrey.]
[Paraphrase] 43, 44. went to Galilee, a∣voiding or passing another way, not by Nazareth, the place of his education, because, according to the proverb, he expected no reception there, he went another way, not by the lake of Genesareth, but by Thabor and Carmel toward Cana, where he had wrought his first miracle.
45. Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went unto the feast.]
[Paraphrase] 45. And upon this second coming of his among the Ga∣lileans, they having, since he was there last, seen what miracles he had done at Jerusalem, at the feast of the passover, c. 2. 14. they thereupon gave him a very kind reception (and after the cure of the courtiers son which follows here, teaching publickly in the Synagogues of Galilee he was glorified of all, Lu. 4. 15.)
46. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine, and there was a certain [note d] * noble man, whose son was sick at Capernaum,
47. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
48. Then said Jesus unto him, [Except ye see signes and wonders, ye will not believe.]
[Paraphrase] 48. I perceive there is need of doing miracles among you, to work faith in you, This weaknesse therefore of yours I will indulge to.
49. The noble man saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
50. Jesus saith unto him, Goe thy way, thy son [liveth.] And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and went his way.
[Paraphrase] 50. is recovered, see v. 52, and 53.
Page 278 51. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son [liveth.]
[Paraphrase] 51. is recovered.
52. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend; and they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh houre the feaver left him.
53. So the father knew that it was at the same hour in the which Jesus said unto him; Thy son liveth, and himself believed and his whole house.
54. This*is again the second miracle that Jesus [did,] when he was come out of Judea into Galilee.
[Paraphrase] 54. did in Cana, as he had done one before, Joh. 2. 8. (having done many betwixt these in other places at Jerusalem, and in Judea, c. 3. 2.)
Annotations on Chap. IV.
[ a] * V. 6. Thus] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉thus is by Theophylact interpreted 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, simply, after any manner, not on a seate, with∣out any provision made for sitting, upon the ground. And if so,* then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 must not be on, but by, or neer, the well, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Gen. 16. 7. is at, or by, the spring of water.
[ b] * V. 10. Living water] The Hebrewes expresse a fountaine of water springing or bu•ling up continually by the phrase 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Gen. 29. 19. living waters, and the Greek render that either literally by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉living water,* or else by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, springing, or leaping, water, that springing of waters out of the earth being a kind of imitation or resemblance of life. This fountain or spring-water, being of all other the purest, is here set to denote that great mercy and grace of God in the hands or disposall of Christ c. 3. 35. that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 v. 10. gift of God, which he had to give her back again by way of reward for any kindnesse of hers to him. And thus Christ himself was promised in the Old Testament to be given in the notion of a foun∣tain Isa. 12. 3. Psal. 68. 26.
[ c] * V. 31. Prayed him] The Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies two things, to question, and to request, or pray. And the Greek translators use one of these for the other Psal. 122. 6. in stead of Pray for the peace, &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉enquire, or aske, after, &c. So here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the disciples asked, for, they intreated, desired, and v. 40. the Samaritanes〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ &c. asked, that is, besought, him to stay. So Mat. 15. 23. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉they (not asked, but) besought him, saying, dismisse her, or doe what she desires of thee (as appears by Christs answer rendr•ng a reason why he did it not presently, v. 24, 26.) So Act. 13. 36. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉desired them to goe out, and c. 23. 20. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉to desire thee, and 2. Thess. 2. 1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉we beseech you brethren. So Joh. 17. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, I pray not for the world, and v. 15. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉I pray not, and v. 20. So c. 16. 26. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that I will pray, though v. 30. it be used in the other sense, for asking questions.
[ d] * V. 46. Noble man] The 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here signi∣fies an officer of the Kings, one that had some place at the court of Herodes Antipas, who was then the Te∣trarch of Galilee, S. Jerome renders it Palatinus. The Latine interpreter reads regulus, by a mistake reading 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; see Casaub. ad Baron. p. 210.
