Samariter

A mixed-heritage people living in the region of Samaria, descended from intermarriage between Israelites remaining after the Assyrian conquest (722 BC) and foreign settlers. Jews and Samaritans had deep mutual hostility (John 4:9). Jesus intentionally crossed this boundary: he spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42), told the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), and healed ten lepers including a grateful Samaritan (Luke 17:11-19). After Pentecost, the gospel reached Samaria (Acts 8:4-25). Jesus used Samaritan-Jewish relations to teach radical love that transcends ethnic and religious prejudice.