Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 25:2

"And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him," — Acts 25:2 (ASV)

Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews . . .—Some of the best manuscripts give the plural, “the chief priests.” It is clear that they hoped to take advantage of Festus’s newness to his office. He was likely enough, they thought, to accept their statements and to yield to the pressure of those who had shown themselves powerful enough to bring about his predecessor’s recall. And they have not forgotten their old tactics. Once again priests and scribes are ready to avail themselves of the weapon of the assassin. Possibly Festus had heard from Felix or Lysias, or others, of the former plot, and took care to be on his guard against this, and so the conspirators were again baffled.