25:3a

to grant them a concession against Paul: This phrase in Greek is literally “asking a favor against him.” This phrase indicates that the Jewish leaders wanted Festus to send for Paul as a concession or gift to them. This favor would be harmful to Paul (“against him”). It is not important here whether or not the Jewish leaders would be obligated to grant a concession in return. See how you translated the word concession in 24:27, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “favor.”

25:3b

by summoning him to Jerusalem: They wanted Festus to send for Paul while Festus was still in Jerusalem. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to have the man sent to Jerusalem (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
that he might have him brought to Jerusalem
-or-
to order someone to bring Paul to Jerusalem

The reason that they probably gave to Festus when they asked this was so that they could more easily bring witnesses or a similar reason that would sound good to Festus. 25:3c was their secret plan. Festus did not know of it. In some languages, a literal translation would wrongly imply that Festus knew their secret plan. If so, indicate a general reason for bringing Paul that would sound good to a good governor. For example:

to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem ⌊for trial there⌋

25:3c

because: Here the word because introduces the reason for the Jewish leaders asking for a favor from Festus. 25:3c in Greek has no conjunction but implies this connection. For example:

for (New International Version)

25:3c in Greek could also imply simultaneous action. For example:

at the same time, setting an ambush (New American Standard Bible)

They planned the ambush secretly. They did not plan the ambush in front of Festus.

they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way: The pronoun they refers only to the Jewish leaders. This was the secret plan of the Jewish leaders. They did not tell Festus this plan. In some languages it may be necessary to clearly indicate it was a secret plan of the Jewish leaders. For example:

for the chief priests and Jewish leaders were ⌊secretly⌋ preparing an ambush to kill him along the way

were preparing an ambush: This phrase refers to planning to hide somewhere along the road and then suddenly attack Paul and the soldiers guarding him. For example:

had a plan to ambush (God’s Word)

along the way: This phrase refers to somewhere between Caesarea and Jerusalem.

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