Samaria, historically a central region of ancient Israel, holds significant importance in biblical narratives, particularly in the New Testament, where its inhabitants become recipients of the Gospel message and are transformed into disciples of Christ. The region, originally the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was known for its mixed population of Jews and Gentiles, resulting from the Assyrian conquest and subsequent resettlement policies (2 Kings 17:24-41).

In the New Testament, Samaria emerges as a pivotal area for the expansion of the early Christian church. Jesus Himself initiates this outreach, breaking cultural and religious barriers by engaging with the Samaritans. In John 4:4-42, Jesus converses with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, revealing His identity as the Messiah. This encounter leads to many Samaritans believing in Him: "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony" (John 4:39). This passage highlights the openness of the Samaritans to the Gospel and their readiness to become followers of Christ.

The Book of Acts further documents the spread of Christianity in Samaria. Following the persecution of the church in Jerusalem, believers were scattered, and Philip the Evangelist went down to a city in Samaria to proclaim the Messiah. Acts 8:5-8 records the impact of Philip's ministry: "Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and the signs they saw him perform." The result was great joy in the city as many were baptized and became disciples.

The conversion of the Samaritans is further solidified when Peter and John are sent from Jerusalem to Samaria to pray for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). This event underscores the acceptance of the Samaritans into the early Christian community, breaking down longstanding hostilities between Jews and Samaritans and fulfilling Jesus' command to be witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The transformation of Samaria from a region of mixed religious practices to a community of Christian disciples exemplifies the inclusive nature of the Gospel. The Samaritans' acceptance of the message of Christ and their integration into the early church serve as a testament to the power of the Gospel to transcend cultural and ethnic divisions, uniting diverse peoples in the body of Christ.John 4:39-42
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
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Acts 8:5-8,14-17,25
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them.
Nave's Topical Index

In Jud??a and through Samaria - a Sketch of Samaritan History and ...
... no necessity for supposing that John and the disciples of Jesus ... the rulers of Egypt
and Syria, Samaria suffered even more than other parts of the country. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in judaea and.htm

The Course Pursued by the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ.
... of Stephen, and when all the disciples, except the ... were scattered abroad, went down
to Samaria, [255] and ... preached the word to the inhabitants of that country. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter i the course pursued by.htm

John iii. 35, 36
... Samaritans were made up; since all this country is called ... from divers places, planted
them in Samaria, that his ... He gave His charge to the disciples in these ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxi john iii 35.htm

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
... on the south it was bounded by Samaria"Mount Carmel on ... with the more humble dwellings
common in the country. ... and the home of His first disciples and apostles ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 3 in galilee at.htm

Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
... Acts 11:20, 21); where the disciples were first ... of the outlying districts of the
country may place ... very name of their capital, Sebaste, for Samaria, showed how ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 2 jews and gentiles.htm

First Missionary Journey Scripture
... Fourth, the large success of the disciples who went throughout Judea and Samaria,
preaching the ... conversion of the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus ...
/.../sell/bible studies in the life of paul/study iii first missionary journey.htm

Chapter iv.
... to publish his Gospel, and collect disciples to it ... by being sent away to Cilicia,
his native country. ... been formed in all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria; for we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter iv.htm

The Progress of the Gospel from the Death of Christ to the Death ...
... of Palestine, were natives of the country, there were ... in all Judea, and in Samaria,
and unto ... hitherto called themselves "brethren" or "disciples" or "believers ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iv the progress of.htm

Appendix iv. An Abstract of Jewish History from the Reign of ...
... or second generation of Zadok's disciples, himself a ... the future safety of their country
apparently ensured ... First, Hyrcanus subjected Samaria, and then conquered ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix iv an abstract of.htm

The Personal History of Herod - the Two Worlds in Jerusalem.
... This happened in Samaria, where, thirty years before, Herod ... women's apartments, friends
from the country would see ... of bad waters, and the disciples who follow ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the personal history.htm

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