Book of Common Prayer

2 Write this to the angel of the church people in Ephesus: Here are the words of the one who holds the seven stars in his hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamps.

² `He says, "I know the things you do. I know that you work hard and are patient. I know that you have nothing to do with bad men. You tested those who say they are messengers from God but are not. You proved that they are not true apostles.

³ I know that you are patient and are strong for my name's sake. And you have not given up.

⁴ But here is what I say against you. You do not love as you loved at first.

⁵ So remember what you were like at first. Stop! Live the way you did at first. If you do not, I will come and move your lamp from its place. I will do it if you do not stop.

⁶ But this is good: you hate the things which the people called Nicolaitans do. I hate the things they do also."

⁷ He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. He says, "I will let the person who wins eat fruit from the tree of life. It grows in God's garden." '

2 Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in the country of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there.

² Jesus and his disciples were also asked to the wedding.

³ The people needed more wine. Then Jesus' mother said to him, `They have no wine.'

⁴ Jesus said, `Woman, why are you telling me about it? It is not yet the time for me to do something.'

⁵ His mother said to the servants, `Do all that he tells you to do.'

⁶ Six very large water pots made of stone were standing there. The pots were there because the Jews had a certain law about washing themselves.

⁷ Jesus said, `Fill the pots with water.' So they filled them to the very top.

⁸ Jesus said, `Now take some out. Carry it to the one in charge of the feast.' They did what he said.

⁹ The man in charge of the feast tasted the water that was now turned into wine. He did not know where it came from, but the servants who drew the water knew. When the man had tasted it, he called the man who was being married.

¹⁰ He said, `Other people give the good wine at the beginning of the feast. When people have had all they want, then they give the wine which is not so good. But you have kept the good wine until now.'

¹¹ This was the first big work that Jesus did. It was in Cana in Galilee. He showed that he was great. And his disciples believed in him.