Yet every nation was making their gods, and they put them in the shrine of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they [were] living.

Now when [the Samaritans] the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles from the captivity were building a temple to the Lord God of Israel,

Then [the Samaritans and others of] the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them [to deter them] from building,

Now in the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), in the beginning of his reign, the Samaritans wrote [to him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem [who had returned from exile].

Rehum the [Persian] commander [of the Samaritans] and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows—

He addressed his allies and the Samaritan officials, saying "What are these pathetic Jews doing? Are they intending to rebuild it by themselves? Do they intend to offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a single day? Can they make stones from this burned out rubble?"

"Listen to this message, you fat cows from Bashan, who live on the Samaritan mountains, who oppress the poor, who rob the needy, and who constantly ask your husbands for one more drink!"

Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them saying, "Do not go on the road to the Gentiles, and do not enter into a city of the Samaritans,

and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

And these Samaritans did not welcome Him because He was heading for Jerusalem. [Note: They perceived He was a Jew and Samaritans did not associate with Jews].

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion,

And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

And as He must pass through the country of Samaria, He came to a Samaritan city called Sichar,

So, He arrived at the Samaritan town called Sychar, which was near the piece of property that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

[About then] a Samaritan woman came [to the well] to draw water. Jesus said to her, "[Please] give me a drink."

but the woman of Samaria said to him, how is it that you who are a Jew, ask drink of me, who am a Samaritan? (for the Jews have no friendly intercourse with the Samaritans.)

Jesus told her, "Believe me, dear lady, the hour is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

You Samaritans do not know what you are worshiping; we Jews do know what we are worshiping; for salvation comes from the Jews.

Just about then Jesus' disciples returned [from town], and were surprised to find Him talking with a woman. [Note: It was not customary for a Jewish male to engage a woman in extended conversation in that day, much less a stranger, and certainly not a Samaritan], yet no one said [to Him], "What are you looking for?" or "Why are you talking to her?"

Now many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him, for that testimony which the woman gave him, "he told me all that ever I did."

so that when the Samaritans were come to him, they desired him to stay with them: and he stay'd there two days.

The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?

So Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Christ to the Samaritans.

A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and astounded the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem, heard that the Samaritans had embraced the word of God, they sent Peter and John,

When they came, they prayed that the Samaritans might receive the holy Spirit,

Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Then, after they had testified and spoken the message of the Lord, they traveled back to Jerusalem, evangelizing many villages of the Samaritans.