And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
desired.
Acts 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
1 Samuel 23:19-21 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? …
Jeremiah 38:4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.
laying.
Acts 23:12-15 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul…
Acts 26:9-11 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth…
Psalm 37:32,33 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him…
by summoning him to Jerusalem
Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life and authority. The leaders likely believed that having Paul tried there would increase their influence over the proceedings. Historically, Jerusalem was the site of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court, which had previously condemned Jesus and sought to do the same with His followers. The request to move Paul to Jerusalem was strategic, as it would place him in a more hostile environment.
because they were preparing an ambush
The Jewish leaders' plan to ambush Paul reveals their desperation and willingness to resort to violence to achieve their goals. This plot echoes earlier attempts on Paul's life, such as the conspiracy in Acts 23:12-15, where more than forty men vowed not to eat or drink until they had killed him. Such plots highlight the intense opposition Paul faced and the lengths to which his enemies would go to silence him.
to kill him along the way
The intent to kill Paul underscores the severity of the threat he posed to the Jewish authorities. This reflects a broader pattern of persecution faced by early Christians, as seen in the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7) and the imprisonment of Peter and John (Acts 4-5). The ambush plan also demonstrates the leaders' lack of faith in the legal process to achieve their desired outcome, resorting instead to extrajudicial means. This mirrors the earlier plot against Jesus, where religious leaders sought to eliminate Him outside the bounds of Roman law.
Acts 25:3 opens with the Jewish leaders “requesting a favor against Paul”.
• Festus was new in office (Acts 24:27). Seeking goodwill with local leaders, he was vulnerable to their pressure.
• The request sounds innocuous—just a “favor”—but it reveals political maneuvering similar to John 19:12, where Pilate felt compelled to satisfy the crowd.
• Luke underscores that this was a real, historical request, not a literary device; every detail is factual (Acts 1:1–3).
Cross references: Acts 24:27; Proverbs 29:25; Galatians 1:10.
The favor specifically asked that Paul be transferred from Caesarea back to Jerusalem.
• Jerusalem was the religious center, giving the accusers home-court advantage (Acts 21:27–30).
• A change of venue looked reasonable; Paul’s case involved Jewish law (Acts 23:29).
• Yet unlike Jesus, who was taken from Galilee to Jerusalem for trial (Luke 23:5–7), God would keep Paul in Gentile custody to fulfill His promise that Paul must testify in Rome (Acts 23:11).
Cross references: Acts 23:11; Luke 23:5–7; Psalm 37:32–33.
Hidden beneath the “favor” was a murder plot.
• This tactic repeats the earlier oath of more than forty men who “bound themselves with a curse” to kill Paul (Acts 23:12–15).
• The word “preparing” points to deliberate, calculated evil (Psalm 10:2).
• Religious zeal mixed with hatred can lead to shocking violence, as seen when Stephen was stoned (Acts 7:57–58).
Cross references: Acts 23:12–15; Psalm 10:2; John 11:53.
The route from Caesarea to Jerusalem provided many ambush points in the Judean hills.
• They hoped Roman guards would be few, assuming Paul was merely a detainee, not a high-profile citizen (Acts 22:25–29).
• Their plan shows how human schemes attempt to outrun God’s purposes, yet Proverbs 19:21 reminds us, “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will stand.”
• Festus, though unwitting, became an instrument of God’s protection by keeping Paul in Caesarea (Acts 25:4–5).
Cross references: Acts 22:25–29; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 54:17.
Acts 25:3 exposes a calculated request masked as a polite “favor.” The leaders wanted Paul moved to Jerusalem so they could ambush and kill him en route. God, however, used Festus’s decision to thwart their plan and keep His promise that Paul would bear witness in Rome. The verse reminds us that hidden evil cannot override divine sovereignty; the Lord’s purposes prevail even when opposition appears sophisticated and relentless (Romans 8:28; 2 Timothy 4:18).
Verse 3. - Asking for and desired, A.V.; to kill him on the way for in the way to kill him, A.V. Asking favor, etc. The Jews evidently thought to take advantage of the inexperience of Festus, and of his natural desire to please them at his first start, to accomplish their murderous intentions against Paul.