After Pentecost, when the Apostles began to proclaim the Gospel, their initial understanding was that they were being sent only to the Jewish people. They would spread the Good News of the coming of Christ to all of the people of Israel and then Christ would return, still within their lifetimes. Only gradually did the Apostles start to understand that their mission entailed much, much more. They had to learn that Christ, the Good Shepherd, has far more sheep than just the Israelites.
The first step was the mission to the Samaritans, who lived between the Jewish territories of Galilee and Judea. The Samaritans were the closest to the Jewish people ethnically and religiously, but the two groups were archenemies. Despite the history of acrimony, the Samaritans were receptive to the message of Christ proclaimed by the Apostles and many of them soon joined the early Church.
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