to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
Parallel translations
- WEB asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to 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.
- 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).
- NLT They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way).
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They ask Festus as a favor to bring Paul to Jerusalem, secretly plotting to ambush and kill him on the way. Their request masks a murderous scheme.
Overview
The leaders revive the earlier plot to assassinate Paul during transit (Acts 23:12-15), cloaking their intent in a polite request. Their willingness to murder exposes the depth of their hostility. God's providence will again thwart the conspiracy through Festus's decision, preserving Paul for the witness still to come.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Acts 9:24but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
- Acts 23:12–15When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
- Acts 9:2and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
- Rom 3:8Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!
- Jer 18:18Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”
- Mark 6:23–25And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”
- Ps 64:2–6Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,
- Jer 38:4Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”
- John 16:3They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
- Luke 23:8–24When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle.
- Acts 26:9–11So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Ps 140:1–5For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
- 1 Sam 23:19–21Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?
- Ps 37:32–33Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 25:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.