Defending your honor against a superior who accuses you falsely Does the Bible say that an individual has an obligation to defend themselves in court (or in the court of public opinion) against an individual who you believe has some authority over you (like a wife who takes Corinthians literally, or a religious or military superior)?

Many of the saints have gone down in history for not defending themselves in big things, like St. Gerard, and in little things, like St. Therese. Moreover, Jesus says that you are blessed when accused falsely because of Him.  Are you still blessed when accused falsely and you offer up your hardship for Him?

I'd like answers from a Biblical perspective, but if there are examples from the lives of the saints or just Natural Law and common sense, I'd appreciate that too. But I'm not looking for personal pastoral advice, just help to find the information that I can use to help someone else think through things more clearly.
I know of no commandment in Scripture to not defend yourself when falsely accused.  The Apostle Paul used the privilege of his Roman citizenship to his benefit after he had been beaten, and by doing so incurred the apologies of the authorities.


  But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let
  those men go." And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying,
  "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and
  go in peace." But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly,
  uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into
  prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come
  themselves and take us out." The police reported these words to the
  magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were
  Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took
  them out and asked them to leave the city.  Acts 16:35-39 ESV


In Acts 7, Stephen also gave a great defense of his own behavior prior to his being stoned.

Jesus is really the only One who needed to give no defense to be like a sheep before its shearers (Isaiah 53).

It should be distinguished that there is a difference from being falsely accused and being falsely accused for the name of Jesus.  The former can happen to anyone, while the second one is persecution.  So, just merely being falsely accused does not rise to the level of being blessed unless it is specifically because of our identity as Christians.

Peter points out another important distinction in his letter.  If we are punished for doing something wrong, the fact that we are Christians doesn't mean we are being persecuted.  Rather, we are just being punished as anyone would.


  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you
  endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is
  a gracious thing in the sight of God.  1 Peter 2:19 ESV


So, there doesn't seem to be any explicit blessing for those who do not defend themselves under a false accusation.  The blessing is in being falsely accused because of one's identity as a Christian, and it only applies for false accusations--not justified ones.