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.
Ver. 17. Now, therefore, if it seem good] Verba byssina. Flaxen words.
Whether it be so] They supposed it was nothing so, and hoped that these Jews would he found falsaries, but it fell out far otherwise; like as St Paul's persecutions at Rome fell out "rather unto the furtherance of the gospel" than else, Philippians 1:12 .