And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Ver. 10. And I heard a loud voice] Great joy was throughout the Churches of Christ, as great cause there was, when Constantine came to the empire. That was very remarkable, that Constantine being now a conqueror, should cause a table to be hanged up on high before the doors of his palace, wherein was painted a dragon that lay thrust through with a dart under his own and his subjects' feet. (Euseb. in Vita Constan.)
For the accuser of our brethren] So the devil is called, saith one, in direct and full opposition to that special name and office of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, or pleader for us, παρακλητος. The Russians are so malicious one towards another, that you shall have a man hide some of his own goods in the house of him whom he hateth, and then accuse him for the stealth of them; just so deals the devil many times by God's dearest servants. The word κατηγορος, here rendered the accuser, signifieth not any kind of accuser, saith a learned divine, but such a one as accuseth before a king.
Which accuseth them] And upon some such articles too as he is able to prove against them. Hence he is said to stand at Joshua's right hand, at the upper hand, because his accusation was as true as vehement, Zechariah 3:3. But here is the comfort, Christ appears in heaven for his (as a lawyer appears for his client), to nonsuit all the devil's accusations, Hebrews 9:24. The Spirit also (as an advocate, παρακλητος) makes request in our hearts to God for us, and helpeth us to make apologies for ourselves,2 Corinthians 7:11. But may not the saints say to Satan (first drawing them to sin, and then accusing them) as he did to Joab?2 Samuel 18:12,13 .