John 2 - NIV LifeConnect Study Bible

2:1 Cana is mentioned only in John’s Gospel. It lay west of the Sea of Galilee. Most scholars identify it with Khirbet Qana, situated about 9 miles (14.5 km) north of Nazareth.

2:3 Running out of wine was more than a minor social embarrassment since the family had an obligation to provide a feast of the socially required standard.

2:6 Jews became ceremonially defiled during the normal circumstances of daily life, and they were cleansed by pouring water over their hands. For a lengthy feast with many guests, a large amount of water was required for this purpose. See also the note on Mk 7:3–4.

2:8–9 The “master of the banquet” was apparently one of the guests charged with serving as master of ceremonies.

2:10 Ordinarily, the “cheaper wine” was served after the guests’ taste buds were dull.

2:12 Situated on the shore of the lake, Capernaum was at a lower sea level than Cana; thus, one “went down” to Capernaum.

2:20 Herod’s new temple was not finally completed until AD 63/64. The meaning here is that work on the edifice had been going on for 46 years. Since construction had begun in about 19 or 20 BC, the year of the event recorded here is about AD 27.