John 4:19 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I perceive that thou art a prophet.— To find a person who was a perfect stranger, and who, on account of the national animosity, could not be suspected of having any intercourse with her townsmen, or with the Samaritans in general, discovering, nevertheless, the most secret particulars of her life; made so sensible an impression on her mind, that she could not but confess such a degree of knowledge more than natural; and, consequently, that the person possessed of it was a prophet, and had it communicated to him by divine inspiration. It is worth our while to trace the gradual progress of this woman's conviction: she at first gives him the appellation of a Jew only; she then wonders that he should so far have laid aside the prejudice of his nation, as to ask a favour of a Samaritan; she next calls him Sir or Lord; she then acknowledges his prophetic character; and, in consequence of that persuasion, proposes for his decision one of the most important questions in dispute between the two nations. When the Pharisees were reproved by our Lord for their hypocrisy, they furiously rejoined, He was a Samaritan, and had a devil; but when the Samaritan woman heard her most secret sins thus discovered, shewas so far from recriminating, that she cries out, Lord, I perceive thou art a prophet.