The first four verses of this passage set the background for the story; John the Baptist has been arrested (3:24; Matt. 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 3:20). Opposition was brewing amongst the Pharisees in Jerusalem because Jesus’ reputation was growing and He was gaining followers and Jesus decided that this was the time to move back to Galilee. It seems that the arrest of John had the affect of freeing Jesus from John’s ministry; John was decreasing, Jesus was increasing. Jesus takes the mountain road that goes through Samaria that He would later send His disciples on (Acts 1:8). When Jesus arrives in Samaria our story begins.
Source: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman | The Life Project
- The Life Project. 2016. Jesus and the Samaritan Woman | The Life Project. [ONLINE] Available at:https://lifereference.wordpress.com/2016/09/27/jesus-and-the-samaritan-woman-2/. [Accessed 28 September 2016].