2 Chronicles 36:22-23

The Proclamation of Cyrus

22 ^aNow in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, ^bthat the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, ^cthe Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 23“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.’”

The book of Ezra begins where 2 Chronicles ends. As prophesied by Isaiah (Isa. 44:28), the Persian King Cyrus had sent exiles led by Zerubbabel back to Jerusalem in 538 b.c. (Persia had defeated Babylon in 539.) Despite opposition from the non-Jewish inhabitants of Judea, and after encouragement by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the temple was rebuilt (515). Then in 458, Ezra led the second of three waves of returning exiles. By the time Ezra arrived, the people had again fallen into sin. Ezra preached God’s word and the people repented (10:9-17). Ezra succeeded because God’s hand was upon him (7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31). This book, perhaps written by Ezra, shows God’s power in covenant faithfulness, moving even pagan kings to accomplish his redemptive purposes.

Ezra 1:1-3

The Proclamation of Cyrus

1 ^dIn the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, ^ethat the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so ^fthat he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

2“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and ^ghe has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel— ^hhe is the God who is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 6:3-5

3In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits ▼

▼A  cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

and its breadth sixty cubits, 4 ^jwith three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. 5And also ^klet the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God.”

Isaiah 44:28

28who says of ^lCyrus, ‘He is ^mmy shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
ⁿand of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”

Isaiah 45:1

Cyrus, God’s Instrument

1 Thus says the Lord to ^ohis anointed, to Cyrus,
^pwhose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and ^qto loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:

Isaiah 45:4

4For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
^rI call you by your name,
^sI name you, though you do not know me.

Matthew 10:16

Persecution Will Come

16 ^t“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be ^uwise as serpents and ^vinnocent as doves.