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Revelation 2:1
ESV “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
NIV To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
NASB To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
CSB "Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
NLT Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
KJV Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

What does Revelation 2:1 mean?

The first letter from Jesus is addressed to the church at Ephesus. The city of Ephesus was an important seaport on the Aegean coast. Of the seven churches Jesus addressed, Ephesus was closest to the island of Patmos, where the exiled apostle John received these messages, dictated by Jesus to send to the seven churches (Revelation 1:9–11).

The apostle Paul had spent three years at Ephesus (Acts 20:31) about forty-three years before John sent Jesus' letter to the church there. During Paul's ministry at Ephesus, the Word of God spread throughout Asia (Acts 19:10). Tradition places John at Ephesus as the church's pastor until he was banished to Patmos. This is the same Ephesian church to which Paul wrote his letter, the New Testament book of Ephesians.

In verse 1, John portrays Jesus as holding the "angels" of the seven churches in his right hand and walking among the seven golden lampstands. Since the Greek and Hebrew words translated as "angel" both literally mean a "messenger," this might refer to the pastors of those churches, to literal spiritual angels, or to the messengers charged with communicating on behalf of those congregations. Jesus, the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18) possesses and protects these "angels." Also, He is present among the churches and observes all that they are and do.
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