Acts 24:1-27
And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and[ with] a certain orator[ named] Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse[ him], saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,We accept[ it] always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.For we have found this man[ a] pestilent[ fellow], and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.But the chief captain Lysias came[ upon us], and with great violence took[ him] away out of our hands,Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and[ toward] men.Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.Or else let these same[ here] say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of[ that] way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let[ him] have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
Ezra 5:5-6:18
But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this[ matter].The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which[ were] on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.Then asked we those elders,[ and] said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that[ were] the chief of them.And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon[ the same] king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that[ was] in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto[ one], whose name[ was] Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that[ is] in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.Then came the same Sheshbazzar,[ and] laid the foundation of the house of God which[ is] in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and[ yet] it is not finished.Now therefore, if[ it seem] good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which[ is] there at Babylon, whether it be[ so], that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that[ is] in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein[ was] a record thus written:In the first year of Cyrus the king[ the same] Cyrus the king made a decree[ concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits,[ and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits;[ With] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which[ is] at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which[ is] at Jerusalem,[ every one] to his place, and place[ them] in the house of God.Now[ therefore], Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which[ are] beyond the river, be ye far from thence:Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods,[ even] of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which[ are] at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter[ and] to destroy this house of God which[ is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished[ it], according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which[ is] at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
