What does John 4:41 mean?

The testimony of the Samaritan woman brought many people to meet Jesus (John 4:29–30). In particular, it seems her mention that Jesus knew her past added curiosity to the crowd (John 4:39). Her willingness to bring others to Christ started a revival in the town. Most people would have cast her aside as an immoral (John 4:17–18) and uneducated Samaritan woman. Jesus' conversation with her proves that no opportunity for evangelism is wasted. For all the faults she had, according to the world, she immediately became an effective ambassador for Jesus.

Of course, those who came to see Christ as a result of the woman's testimony were just the beginning. As Jesus stayed with the people (John 4:40), He had even more opportunities to proclaim the gospel. Based on this verse, it's reasonable to say that more people came to hear Jesus after He was invited to town than came at the request of the woman. That doesn't change the sequence of events: she told others, and it grew into a bigger and bigger event (John 4:42).

Some of the most influential people in history are not the celebrity names we read about. Truly, some of the world's most impactful lives are those whom we never even knew existed. They don't get the credit others do (John 4:38), but their influence is what makes other people's accomplishments possible. Thankfully, God knows and will reward each person accordingly (Matthew 6:18).