Ezra 4:5

¹¹One has gone out of you who devises evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness.

⁵But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.

⁶The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king follows. ⁷They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace.

⁸Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. ⁹Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?” ¹⁰We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head. ¹¹Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. ¹²But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon. ¹³But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. ¹⁴The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king also took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. ¹⁵He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in its place.’ ¹⁶Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed.

¹⁷Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”

¹After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul. ²When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight, ³we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴But that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. ⁵For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.^8[+] By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

⁹The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.

¹⁰When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense, ¹¹seeing that you can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. ¹²In the temple they didn’t find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. ¹³Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. ¹⁴But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets; ¹⁵having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. ¹⁶In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men. ¹⁷Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings; ¹⁸amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil. ¹⁹They ought to have been here before you and to make accusation if they had anything against me. ²⁰Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council, ²¹unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’”

²²But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.” ²³He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.

²⁴After some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.” ²⁶Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore also he sent for him more often and talked with him.

²⁷But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

¹Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? ²The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed,

²⁴Then work stopped on God’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.