The Woman at the Well & The Ethiopian Eunuch

John 4:1–42 & Acts 8:26–40

I. The Woman at the Well (John 4:1–42)

Our first story is found in John 4—the encounter between Jesus and the woman at the well. Before we dive in, it’s worth remembering that the chapter and verse numbers were added centuries after the original texts were written. These stories were meant to be read and understood as whole narratives.

John 4 follows the powerful conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in chapter 3, where Jesus tells him he must be “born again.” This spiritual rebirth—distinct from our physical birth—is a picture of salvation, the Gospel applied, and the forgiveness of sin.

From that conversation with a respected Jewish leader, John moves us into a very different encounter—Jesus speaking with a Samaritan woman at a well.

1. The Background: Who Were the Samaritans?

Around 722 BC, the Assyrians conquered northern Israel, taking many of its people into captivity, including those from the region of Samaria. They repopulated the area with foreigners from across their empire, who intermarried with the remaining Jews.

These foreigners brought with them their polytheistic beliefs. However, over time, many adopted the worship of Jehovah. The Samaritans accepted only the first five books of the Old Testament—the Pentateuch—and rejected the rest of the Jewish Scriptures.

When the Jews began rebuilding the Temple, the Samaritans offered to help, but were rejected. In response, they built their own temple around 400 BC, which the Jews later destroyed in 128 BC. This long history of religious and ethnic tension is what sets the stage for John 4.

2. The Encounter at the Well

John 4:4–10 (excerpt)
Jesus, tired from His journey, sat at Jacob’s well around noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into town.)
The woman replied, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?”
Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”

Jesus intentionally engages this woman—crossing social, cultural, and spiritual boundaries. This was His mission: to BLESS others. And notice the method—He starts by asking for her help, the “Serve” step in the BLESS model.

Though suspicious, the woman listens as Jesus introduces the idea of “living water”—a metaphor for spiritual life and renewal.

John 7:38–39 clarifies:
“Whoever believes in me… rivers of living water will flow from within them.” This He said about the Spirit, who would be given to believers.

Jesus elevates the conversation. The woman pushes back, questioning whether Jesus is greater than Jacob himself—someone the Samaritans revered deeply.

John 4:13–14
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst… it will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The woman is intrigued. She wants this living water.

Then Jesus changes the tone.

John 4:16–18
“Go, call your husband.”
“I have no husband.”
“You are right… you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.”

Jesus exposes her brokenness—not to shame, but to awaken her to deeper truths. She recognizes something profound:

John 4:25–26
“I know that Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything.”
Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am He.”

This is one of the clearest declarations Jesus makes of His identity in the Gospels.

3. The Results

John 4:29–30
“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

She runs back to her village. And what happens?

John 4:39–42 (excerpt)
“Many of the Samaritans believed because of the woman’s testimony… They said, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know this man really is the Savior of the world.’”

Incredible. A woman—marginalized in society—is used by God to lead a community to Christ. No seminary degree, no church position. Just her story.

If God can use her, He can use you.

Before she left, the disciples returned and offered Jesus food, but He wasn’t interested. He had a bigger lesson to teach:

John 4:34–38
“My food is to do the will of Him who sent me… I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest… One sows and another reaps… I sent you to reap what you have not worked for.”

The harvest is ready. Our job is to plant, water, reap—BLESS others by beginning with prayer, listening, eating, serving, and sharing.

II. The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26–40)

In our second story, we see the Holy Spirit orchestrating a divine encounter—not through Jesus directly, but through one of His followers, Philip.

Acts 8:26–29 (excerpt)
An angel told Philip, “Go south to the desert road.” On his way, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a high official in charge of the treasury of the Kandake. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was now reading from the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

This same Holy Spirit—who led Philip—dwells in you and me. Are we listening when He prompts us?

1. The Eunuch’s Humility

Acts 8:30–31
Philip asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
The eunuch replied, “How can I unless someone explains it?” and invited Philip to sit with him.

He could have pretended. But his humility opened the door for truth.

Side note: Of all the passages he could be reading, he’s reading Isaiah 53—the clearest Old Testament prophecy about the suffering Messiah.

2. The Message of Jesus

Acts 8:32–35
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter…”
The eunuch asked, “Is the prophet talking about himself or someone else?”
Then Philip… told him the good news about Jesus.

Out of the entire Old Testament, this is the moment. Philip connects the prophecy to Christ.

We all live in a broken, sinful world. But Jesus came to redeem it. The sinless Son of God died to pay for our sins. And He rose again. That’s the Good News. And it requires a response.

3. The Eunuch’s Obedience

Acts 8:36–38
“Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”
They stopped the chariot, and Philip baptized him.

Was it convenient? Not at all. But obedience rarely is. He didn’t wait—he responded immediately to Jesus.

If you haven’t been baptized yet, we’ll be holding an outdoor baptism on August 24th. What’s standing in your way?

Acts 8:39
“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing.”

God orchestrated this moment—not just for Philip, and not only for the eunuch. He is still pursuing hearts today.

Conclusion

Two people—very different backgrounds, very different contexts—both pursued by God.

• A Samaritan woman with a broken past.

• An Ethiopian eunuch with influence and questions.

And the same God met them where they were, just like He does with us.