Albert Barnes Commentary John 8:48

"The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?" — John 8:48 (ASV)

Say we not well. Do we not speak truly?

Thou art a Samaritan. This was a term of contempt and reproach. (See Barnes' notes on John 4:9).

It had the force of charging him with being a heretic or a schismatic, because the Samaritans were regarded as such.

And hast a devil. . This charge they brought against him because he had said that they were not of God, or were not the friends of God.

This they regarded as taking sides with the Samaritans, because the question between the Jews and Samaritans was which of them worshipped God correctly (John 4:20).

As Jesus affirmed that the Jews were not of God, and as he, contrary to all their views, had gone and preached to the Samaritans (John 4), they regarded it as proof that he was disposed to take part with them.

They also regarded it as evidence that he had a devil. The devil was an accuser or calumniator; and because Jesus charged them with being opposed to God, they considered it proof that he was influenced by such an evil spirit.

Devil. In the original Greek, demon. Not the prince or chief of the devils, but an evil spirit.

(John 7:20)