“And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.”
They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem - for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way - Luke's aside reveals the murderous intent behind the formal request. The Greek desis (deesis, 'petition') carries the weight of urgent supplication, but it masks conspiracy. The 'way' (hodos, hodos) from Caesarea to Jerusalem becomes the stage for a planned assassination, making the legal process itself a cover for violence.
Church Fathers on Acts 25:3
Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, and desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. Acts 25:1-3 Here now God's providence interposed, not permitting the governor to do this: for it was natural that he having just come to the government would wish to gratify them:…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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