Accusation

A charge brought against a person in a legal, ecclesiastical or spiritual context.

In legal affairs in general

In the OT legal systems

Deuteronomy 19:15–21 See also Deuteronomy 17:2–7; 1 Kings 21:8–13; Ezra 4:6; Nehemiah 5:6–7; Daniel 6:4–5

A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you. Then the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything so evil among you. You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.

In the NT legal systems

Acts 19:38–41 See also Acts 7:1, Acts 18:12–13, Acts 23:23–30, Acts 24:1–9, Acts 25:1–2, Acts 28:19

So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there. But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly. For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.” After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

In God's covenant dealings with his people

Micah 6:1–2 See also Jeremiah 2:5–9; Hosea 4:1–3, Hosea 11:12–12:6

Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment, you enduring foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel:

In the earthly experience of Jesus Christ

John 19:6 See also Matthew 27:12–14, Matthew 27:37 parallels Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38, John 19:19–22; Luke 23:4; John 18:29, John 19:4

As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”

In the experience of God's people

In the context of justification

Romans 8:33 See also Isaiah 50:8–9; Colossians 1:22

Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

In their standing in the eyes of the world

Ephesians 5:3–4 See also Matthew 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 3:13

But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

In the conduct of church affairs

Christian involvement in litigation

Matthew 5:25–26 parallel Luke 12:58–59 See also 1 Corinthians 6:1–8

Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

In the qualification for church leaders

1 Timothy 3:2 See also Titus 1:6

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

In church disputes

1 Timothy 5:19 See also Matthew 18:15–20

Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

In the character and activity of Satan

Zechariah 3:1–2 See also Job 1:9–11; Psalm 109:6; Revelation 12:9–10

Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”