Acquittal

The declaration of innocence and release from custody. It may be literal, in the context of human courts of justice, or figurative, God being portrayed as the judge of all the earth.

Divine justice

Acquittal of the innocent

Matthew 12:33–37 See also 1 Kings 8:31–32 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:22–23; Job 4:7; Proverbs 10:16; Daniel 6:16–22; Matthew 12:5

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Punishment of the guilty

Exodus 23:6–7 See also Exodus 34:5–7; Job 4:8–9; Micah 6:9–16; Nahum 1:1–6

You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits. Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

The acquittal of sinners in justification

Romans 5:1–2 See also Romans 4:23–25

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Human justice

Deuteronomy 25:1–3 See also Exodus 22:2, Exodus 23:7–8; Deuteronomy 19:15–19; 2 Kings 10:1–9; Isaiah 29:20–21

If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned. If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall have him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes his crime warrants. He may receive no more than forty lashes, lest your brother be beaten any more than that and be degraded in your sight.

Unjust acquittal of the guilty

Proverbs 17:15 See also Proverbs 18:5, Proverbs 24:23–25; Isaiah 5:22–23

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.

Examples of acquittal of the innocent

Acts 18:12–17 See also Acts 16:35–39

While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat. “This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said. But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint. But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.” And he drove them away from the judgment seat. At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.

Instances when the innocent were not acquitted

Jesus Christ was not acquitted because of pressure from the chief priests and the elders

Matthew 27:11–26 parallels Mark 15:2–15, Luke 23:2–3, Luke 23:18–25, John 18:29–19:16

Paul was not acquitted because he had appealed to Caesar

Acts 26:30–32 See also Acts 25:1–12, Acts 25:23–26:25

Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them. On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”