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John Chapter 2

New Testament Gospel 25 Verses

What is John 2 about?

The theological Gospel — seven signs, the "I AM" declarations, and the proof that Jesus is the eternal Son of God. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2and Jesus also was bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews` manner of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast. And they bare it.
9And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants that had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calleth the bridegroom,
10and saith unto him, Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when [men] have drunk freely, [then] that which is worse: thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11This beginning of his signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
12After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and [his] brethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days.
13And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers` money, and overthrew their tables;
16and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father`s house a house of merchandise.
17His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for thy house shall eat me up.
18The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days?
21But he spake of the temple of his body.
22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he spake this; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did.
24But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men,
25and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“And the third day there was a marriage, etc.] Either from the second testimony bore by John the Baptist concerning Christ, and from the call of Simon Peter, which seem to be of the same date; (see <430135>John 1:35,36,42,43), or from Christ’s coming into Galilee; or from the conversation he had with Nathanael; from either of which the date is taken, it matters not; the first is as agreeable and plain, as any. There is much dispute, and many rules with the Jews about the times, and days of marriage: “a virgin, (they say f70,) marries on the fourth day (of the week), and a widow on the fifth, because the sanhedrim…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“FIRST MIRACLE, WATER MADE WINE--BRIEF VISIT TO CAPERNAUM. (Joh 2:1-12) third day--He would take two days to reach Galilee, and this was the third. mother there--it being probably some relative's marriage. John never names her [BENGEL].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“And the third day - On the third day after his conversation with Nathanael. Cana - This was a small town about 15 miles northwest of Tiberias and 6 miles northeast of Nazareth. It is now called Kerr Kenna, is under the government of a Turkish officer, and contains perhaps 300 inhabitants, chiefly Catholics. The natives still pretend to show the place where the water was turned into wine, and even one of the large stone water-pots. “A Greek church,” says Professor Hackett (‘Illustrations of Scripture,’ p. 322), “stands at the entrance of the town, deriving its special sanctity, as I understood, from its being…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“And the third day - After he had said this. In Cana of Galilee - There were two other towns of the same name, one in the tribe of Ephraim, the other in Caelosyria. John 2:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“2:1–10:42 Jesus illustrated his identity and work through the institutions and festivals of Judaism (see 2:1; 5:1). 2:1-25 In this section, Jesus appeared at two symbolic Jewish ceremonies. At a wedding in Cana (2:1-12), he replaced the ritual cleansing water with his own superior wine. Later, around Passover, he cleansed the Temple (2:13-25). 2:1 The ceremonies surrounding a wedding celebration could last as long as a week; weddings often included dramatic processions in which the groom would bring the bride to his home for the festivities (Matt 25:1-13).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“am 4034, ad 30 the third: Joh 1:43 a marriage: Gen 1:27, Gen 1:28, Gen 2:18-25; Psa 128:1-4; Pro 18:22, Pro 19:14, Pro 31:10-12; Eph 5:30-33; Ti1 4:1-3; Heb 13:4 Cana: Joh 4:46, Joh 21:2; Jos 19:28, Kanah John 2:2”
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