⁹ We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”^{(A) 10} We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

¹¹ This is the answer they gave us:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple^(B) that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished.