Then the chief priests began to accuse him repeatedly.

“Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope.

But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond.

They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they could accuse him.

The chief priests and the experts in the law were there, vehemently accusing him.

nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing.

But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who should be here before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.

So Pilate asked him again, “Have you nothing to say? See how many charges they are bringing against you!”

When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing.”

But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar – not that I had some charge to bring against my own people.

A man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” so that they could accuse him.

The experts in the law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a reason to accuse him.

(Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him.) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.

“So,” he said, “let your leaders go down there with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, they may bring charges against him.”

They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar and claiming that he himself is Christ, a king.”

and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. When I examined him before you, I did not find this man guilty of anything you accused him of doing.

The next day, because the commanding officer wanted to know the true reason Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council to assemble. He then brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight.

If then I am in the wrong and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, but if not one of their charges against me is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met his accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation.