Acts 25:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.

NIV: They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

NASB: requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem ( at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way).

CSB: asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him.

NLT: They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way).

KJV: And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

NKJV: asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem— while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him.

The Sanhedrin has been waiting for two years to get their hands on Paul. Their moment came, but in a disastrous meeting during which Paul insulted the high priest—possibly by accident—and manipulated the council factions into fighting against each other. Next, they tried an assassination attempt, but were foiled by Paul's nephew who overheard the plot (Acts 23:1–15). Then they presented evidence of Paul's crimes before Governor Felix, but Felix refused to convict Paul. His reasons were glaringly obvious: the Sanhedrin had neither evidence nor witnesses (Acts 24:1–9).

Instead of handing Paul over to the Sanhedrin, Felix kept him under house arrest in Caesarea Maritima. That kept Paul out of the way, but it also kept him out of the Sanhedrin's clutches (Acts 24:22–27).

Now there's a new governor in town: Festus. He doesn't seem aware of the failed assassination attempt or the botched trial, but he's eager to please. The council members see their chance. They officially request a favor: that Festus hold a new trial in Jerusalem. Festus counters with a preliminary hearing in Caesarea. He invites representatives to come and present their evidence. If he finds they have a case, he'll see about getting Paul to Jerusalem (Acts 25:4–5).

The Sanhedrin doesn't care about the court case. They care about one thing: if Festus agrees to a trial in Jerusalem, he will have to transport Paul the long distance from Caesarea. The assassins will finally have another chance to take Paul out.

Acts 25:1–5 describes the new governor, Festus, meeting the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. They immediately present the one thing Festus can do to earn their good graces: bring Paul to Jerusalem for trial. Festus doesn't know it's a trap. He does know Paul is a Roman citizen and has the right to choose the place of his trial. For good reason, Paul does not want to go to Jerusalem. Festus invites the leaders to the capital, Caesarea Maritima, to present their case.

In Acts 25, the new governor, Festus, must clean up Felix's mess. He tries to ingratiate himself with the Sanhedrin but when they ask him to bring Paul to Jerusalem for trial, he refuses. The Sanhedrin agrees to come to Caesarea Maritima, instead, to present their accusations. Festus quickly realizes they don't have a case. Yet when he hesitates to dismiss the charges, Paul appeals the case to a higher court. Festus then invites King Agrippa II, the king's sister Bernice, and the city leaders to hear Paul and determine how to justify Paul's presence before Caesar.

When Felix is called back to Rome to answer for his cruelty, he leaves a bit of a mess. Paul is still under house arrest without charges (Acts 24). When the new governor Festus refuses to exonerate him, Paul appeals to a higher court. Paul is a Roman citizen, so Festus must send him. Yet he still has no formal charges. After inviting King Agrippa II and the city leaders to hear Paul's testimony, they realize Paul has done nothing wrong and should have been released. Paul and Luke survive a harrowing sea voyage but finally arrive at Rome (Acts 27—29).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.