The proclamation from king Cyrus to the captive people of God asked a question. He wanted to know who was willing among them to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple of God. He told them in the proclamation that God had told him to set the Jews at liberty so they could rebuild His dwelling place.
King Cyrus also said that those who remained in Babylon should send money and other supplies with those who were to go back. Cyrus did another very wonderful thing. All of the vessels of the original temple (the house of God in Jerusalem that had been destroyed 70 years before), that had been taken when the people were carried away captive, were returned so that they could be used in the new temple. These vessels were made of gold and silver.
When the Jews heard the good news, the leaders (“chief of the fathers . . . the priests, and the Levites”) arose to go back and lead all the others who wanted to return.
Before going further in our journey, let’s rest while you find these verses:
1. The Apostle Paul said that those who serve the Lord must patiently instruct those who have been taken ____________ by Satan so that they might be free. 2 Timothy 2:___
And
2. The apostles in the early church taught and preached every day in people’s houses and in the ____________. Acts 5:___
And
3. If Paul had not appealed to Caesar for justice, he could have been set at ____________. Acts 26:___
Then
4. The bodies that Christians have while in this world are called “earthen ____________”. 2 Corinthians 4:___
But
5. Tabitha was a sister in the Lord who was full of ____________ works that she did for the believers where she lived. Acts 9:___
Now