Jesus ¹  also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who was informed of accusations ²  that his manager ³  was wasting ⁴  his assets.

(Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against ¹  him.) ²  Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. ³ 

“So,” he said, “let your leaders ¹  go down there ²  with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, ³  they may bring charges ⁴  against him.”

An elder must be blameless, ¹  the husband of one wife, ²  with faithful children ³  who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion.

Violent men perjure themselves, ¹  and falsely accuse me. ² 

I am disdained by them. ¹  When they see me, they shake their heads. ² 

Do not accuse ¹  anyone ²  without legitimate cause, ³  if he has not treated you wrongly.

Above ¹  his head they put the charge against him, ²  which read: ³  “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.”

plotting against ¹  him, to catch ²  him in something he might say.

When Paul ¹  had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, ²  saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time ³  of peace through your rule, ⁴  and reforms ⁵  are being made in this nation ⁶  through your foresight. ⁷ 

The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, ¹  claiming ²  that these things were true.

Do not let anyone accuse or contend against anyone else: ¹  for my case is against you priests! ² 

Jesus stood up straight ¹  and said to her, “Woman, ²  where are they? Did no one condemn you?”

But there are some Jews from the province of Asia ¹  who should be here before you and bring charges, ²  if they have anything against me.

But when the Jews objected, ¹  I was forced to appeal to Caesar ²  – not that I had some charge to bring ³  against my own people. ⁴ 

and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading ¹  the people. When I examined him before you, I ²  did not find this man guilty ³  of anything you accused him of doing.

As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, ¹  make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, ²  and the officer throw you into prison.

Although ¹  I am innocent, ²  I could not answer him; ³  I could only plead ⁴  with my judge ⁵  for mercy.

I will never ¹  declare that you three ²  are in the right; until I die, I will not set aside my integrity!

“If my land cried out against me ²  and all its furrows wept together,