Bible Strands
Acts 25:3
to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chief priests and Jewish leaders are speaking to the governor Festus, urging him to transfer Paul's trial from Caesarea to Jerusalem. This occurs immediately after they present their accusations and before Festus announces his travel plans.
The words — They ask for χάριν (charin), a favor or concession, requesting that Festus μεταπέμψηται (metapempsētai), summon Paul to Jerusalem. The prepositional phrase κατ' αὐτοῦ (kat' autou) explicitly frames the request as acting against Paul.
The thread — The text's description of a planned ambush along a transfer route parallels the assassination plot in Acts 9:24 and the sworn conspiracy in Acts 23:12, while structurally echoing the Ziphites' report to Saul in 1 Samuel 23:19.
Why it lands — The verse records a legal request explicitly motivated by a lethal ambush, requiring readers to distinguish between procedural justice and manipulated transfers designed to facilitate violence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
Cross-references
- Acts 9:24 but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
- Acts 23:12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
- 1 Samuel 23:19 Then 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?
- Psalms 37:32 Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
- Psalms 64:2 Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,
- Psalms 140:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
- Jeremiah 18:18 Then 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.”
- Jeremiah 38:4 Then 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.”
- Mark 6:23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”
- Luke 23:8 When 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.