Acts 25:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They ask Festus to transfer Paul to Jerusalem, secretly planning to ambush and kill him on the road.
What Does Acts 25:3 Mean?
The leaders request a seemingly reasonable favor: bring Paul up to Jerusalem for trial. But Luke exposes the hidden plot. They mean to set an ambush along the way and murder him before he ever reaches a courtroom, much as a band had vowed to do two years earlier.
Sin dressed in the language of justice is still sin. Their request sounds procedural, but it conceals a death they have already decided. Scripture again and again shows the innocent being plotted against in secret, and again and again shows that the Lord sees what men hide. The plans of the wicked are laid bare before Him, and not one of them can move faster than His protecting will.
Acts 25:3 in the Original Language
enedra (ἐνέδρα), 'ambush' -- a hidden trap set along the road to lie in wait for a victim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 25:3
What does Acts 25:3 mean?
They ask Festus to transfer Paul to Jerusalem, secretly planning to ambush and kill him on the road.