These twelve Jesus sent on a mission, after giving them their instructions: "Go not," He said, "among the Gentiles, and enter no Samaritan town;

They went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for Him.

But a certain Samaritan, being on a journey, came where he lay, and seeing him was moved with pity.

and he threw himself at the feet of Jesus, thanking Him. He was a Samaritan.

"How is it," replied the woman, "that a Jew like you asks me, who am a woman and a Samaritan, for water?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Of the Samaritan population of that town a good many believed in Him because of the woman's statement when she declared, "He has told me all that I have ever done."

When however the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him on all sides to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.

"Are we not right," answered the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?"

Now for some time past there had been a man named Simon living there, who had been practising magic and astonishing the Samaritans, pretending that he was more than human.

When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them.

So the Apostles, after giving a solemn charge and delivering the Lord's Message, travelled back to Jerusalem, making known the Good News also in many of the Samaritan villages.