Acts 25:3

Desired favour. They sought special consideration of the charges against Paul. They were among the great men of the nation; Paul was not. Their honor and integrity as leaders of the people were at stake in this matter. By their animosity toward Paul they had maneuvered themselves into a difficult position. It has been suggested that the “favour” (charis) the Jews sought might have been an official order transferring Paul to their jurisdiction.

Laying wait. The earlier plot against Paul (see on ch. 23:12-15) had not been abandoned. Jewish public opinion and common law approved of direct measures in dealing with persons supposed to be guilty of violating certain religious regulations (cf. Mishnah Sanhedrin 9. 6, Soncino ed. of the Talmud, p. 542). Perhaps some members of the council had also bound themselves with an oath, as certain fanatics had done two years earlier.