Desiring Favor Against Paul - Acts 25:3

The beloved physician Luke wrote, “when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, ...”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse three of the book of Acts Luke shared how the high priest and the chief of the Jews, “desired favor against him”, where we read:

And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem,

laying wait in the way to kill him.

The verse begins, “And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, ...” Luke began with the words, “and desired favor” which means “and begged, called for, craved and required grace, good will and loving kindness” “against him” or “toward Paul”, “that he would send for him” which means “that Festus would summon and invite Paul” “to Jerusalem” or “to the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”. Luke shared how the “high priest and chief of the Jews” wanted “Festus” to be favorable to their request to summon “Paul” to the city of “Jerusalem”.

The verse goes on to say, “... laying wait in the way to kill him.” Luke continued with the words, “laying wait in the way” which means “preparing themselves for an ambush along the traveled road from Caesarea to Jerusalem” “to kill him” or “to abolish, destroy and slay Paul”. Luke shared how the “high priest and chief of the Jews” were preparing an ambush along the road from Caesarea to Jerusalem to “kill” Paul if “Festus” granted their transfer request.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the leaders within Jerusalem maintained their ambition to have “Paul” killed. Now that “Festus” was to be in charge of the region in which “Paul” was held captive, they wanted him to transfer “Paul” to “Jerusalem” from “Caesarea”. This would allow them to set an ambush along the way to “kill” “Paul” like they originally desired. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, however, not everyone believes and trusts in Him as their “Savior and Lord”. Many people want Him to be eliminated, and they often rise up against His ministers. Those who are wise will see themselves in the seat of “Festus” and judge whether the message of the gospel should be “killed” along their own path of living.

Next time Luke shares how, “Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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