42 Bible Verses about Authority, of human institutions

God gave them up to uncleanness because of the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creation more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.

Jehovah saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become. Every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

He is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid for he does not bear the sword in vain. He is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.

Let every person be subject to superior authorities. For there is no authority except by God. God allows the authorities to serve in their positions. Whoever opposes the authority resists the ordinance of God. Those who resist will receive judgment.

I will require your lifeblood as an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. I will demand an accounting from each man for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man will have his blood shed by man. For man was made in the image of God.

He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to the discerning.

The decision is by the decree of the watchers. The sentence by the word of the holy ones! It is to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets over it the lowest of men.

O you king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty. Because of the greatness he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he chose he killed and whom he chose he kept alive. Whom he chose he raised up, and whom he chose he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened with pride he dealt proudly. He was deposed from his kingly throne and they took his glory from him:read more.
He was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts. His dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.

Jesus answered him: You would have no power against me except it was given you from above. Therefore he that delivered me to you has greater sin.

Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it is to the king,

This is WHAT JEHOVAH SAYS ABOUT CYRUS, his anointed one: I have held him by his right hand so he could conquer the nations ahead of him; that he could strip kings of their power, and open doors ahead of him so that the gates would not be shut.

so I am going to send for all the families from the north. I will also send for my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, says Jehovah. I will bring the families from the north to attack this land, its people, and all these surrounding nations. I am going to destroy them and turn them into something terrible, something ridiculed, and something permanently ruined.

Now I have handed all these countries over to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made wild animals serve him.

Say to them: 'This is what Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to send for my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will set his throne over these stones that I buried, and I will spread his royal canopy above them.

That is why you pay taxes. They are God's ministers continually serving this very purpose.

They should be made for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do good.

Let every person be subject to superior authorities. For there is no authority except by God. God allows the authorities to serve in their positions.

Tell us what you think? Is it lawful to pay the poll tax to Caesar, or not? Jesus perceived their wickedness. He said: Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. They brought a penny (denarius) to him.read more.
He asked: Whose image and superscription is on this coin? Caesar's, they said. Then he said: Pay Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Pay God the things that are God's.

Teacher, they said, we know that you are truthful, and not concerned about what other people think. You truthfully teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay or should we not pay? Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them: Why do you test me? Show me a denarius. And they brought it. He said to them: Whose is this image and superscription? They said: Caesar's.read more.
Jesus said: Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. They greatly marveled at him.

Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? He perceived their craftiness, and replied: Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription does it have? They said, Caesar's.read more.
He said to them: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

You must be in subjection, not only because of that wrath, but also for the sake of your conscience. That is why you pay taxes. They are God's ministers continually serving this very purpose. Render therefore to all their due. Provide tribute to whom tribute is due. Give custom to whom custom is owed. Render fear to whom fear is owed and offer honor to whom honor is deserved.

Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready to do every good work,

Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it is to the king, or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do good.

My son, respect Jehovah and the king. Do not associate with those who want to change things.

Render therefore to all their due. Provide tribute to whom tribute is due. Give custom to whom custom is owed. Render fear to whom fear is owed and offer honor to whom honor is deserved.

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Reverence and respect God. Honor the king.

Peter and John answered: You judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God.

The midwives respected God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them. They let the boys live.

But Naboth said to Ahab, God forbid that I give you the heritage of my fathers.

If not you should know O king that we will not serve your gods. We will not worship the golden image that you set up!

They approached the king about his decree: Did you sign a decree stating that every man that shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions? The king answered: The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be altered.

Caesar's, they said. Then he said: Pay Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Pay God the things that are God's.

Jesus said: Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. They greatly marveled at him.

He said to them: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents. They saw he was a beautiful child and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, They should be made for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Work for the good of the city where I have taken you as captives. Pray to Jehovah for that city. When it prospers, you will also prosper.

The next day the magistrates sent the officers saying: Let those men go. The jailor reported the words to Paul, saying: The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore go in peace. Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly uncondemned, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison. Do they now throw us out privately? No I say, but let them come in person to bring us out.read more.
The officers reported these words to the magistrates. They feared when they heard that they were Romans. They personally came to them and brought them out. They asked them to go away from the city.

The people listened to Paul until he said this. Then they shouted at the top of their voices: Away with him! Kill him! He is not fit to live! They were screaming, throwing off their clothes, and throwing dust up in the air. The Roman commander ordered his men to take Paul into the barracks. He told them to whip him in order to find out why the Jews were screaming like this against him.read more.
When they tied him up to be whipped Paul said to the officer standing there, Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman citizen who has not been tried for a crime? When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked him: What are you doing? That man is a Roman citizen! The commander went to Paul and asked him: Tell me, are you a Roman citizen? Yes, answered Paul. The commander said: I became one by paying a large amount of money. I am one by birth, Paul answered. At once the men who were going to question Paul drew back from him. The commander was frightened when he found out that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had put him in chains.

Three days after arriving in the province Festus ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. The high priest and Jewish leaders brought charges against Paul. They desired favor against him that he would transfer him to Jerusalem. Then they would ambush him along the way and kill him.read more.
But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he would go there shortly. He said: Let those who have authority among you go there with me to present your case against this man if there is anything out of the way about the man. After he stayed there more than ten days, he went to Caesarea. The next day he sat in judgment. He commanded Paul be brought before him. When he arrived the Jews who also came there from Jerusalem presented many grievous complaints against Paul. They could not prove them. Paul defended himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I committed any sin. Festus was willing to do the Jews a favor, so he answered Paul: Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? I stand at Caesar's court, Paul replied, where I ought to be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you are finding out. If I am a wrongdoer, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if charges brought against me by the Jews are not true no man has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar. Then Festus conferred with his council and answered: Have you appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go.