John 4

John 4
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John 16:14-22 on the recto side of Papyrus 5, written about AD 250.
Book	Gospel of John
Bible part	New Testament
Order in the Bible part	4
Category	Gospel

John 4 is the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

The Pharisees learn that Jesus is baptizing more people than John the Baptist. John 4:2 notes that "... in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples", although John 3:26 clearly suggests that Jesus himself was baptizing - "that man who was with you (John the Baptist) on the other side of the Jordan". Jesus learns this, leaves Judea, and sets off to return to Galilee. John 4:4 records that in order to reach Galilee it was necessary to pass through Samaria, although an alternative route through Peraea on the eastern side of the Jordan could have been taken.Josephus spoke of this as the customary way of the Galileans going up during the feasts at Jerusalem. The 19th century Anglican bishop Charles Ellicott notes that the Pharisees "took the longer road through Peraea, to avoid contact with the country and people of Samaria". Ellicott suggests that the necessity to travel through Samaria was not a matter of geographical necessity but arose from Jesus' purpose, to proclaim "the principles of true religion and worship ... for all nations".

Jesus then goes to the Samarian town of Sychar, and rests after his journey at Jacob's Well, while His disciples go into the town to get food. The gospel notes that it was "about the sixth hour" i.e. around noon (according to Jewish reckoning), or in the evening (according to Roman reckoning); the events recorded are more consistent with the latter, as noon was not the natural time either for resting after a journey or for drawing water.