18 Bible Verses about Government

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I wish thou wert cold or hot. So because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit thee out of my mouth: read more.
because thou sayest, I am rich, and wallow in wealth, and have no want unsupplied; yet thou knowest not that thou art wretched, and pitiable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I advise thee to buy of me gold purified by the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white robes, that thou mayest be completely clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thine eyes with a collyrium, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and correct: be zealous then, and repent. Lo! I stand at the door, and knock: if any person hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him, and he with me. He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit on my throne, as I also have overcome, and have sat down with my Father on his throne.

Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Jesus Christ with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him: if we renounce him, he also will renounce us:

And the Son of man indeed goeth, as is decreed: but wo to that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to question among themselves, who it could possibly be of them who should do this thing. Now it came to pass, that there was also a contention among them, even which of them should be accounted to be the greatest. read more.
And he said to them, The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But ye shall not act thus: but the superior among you, let him be as the junior; and he that presideth, as he that serveth. For which is the greater, he that sitteth at table, or he that waits? is not he that sitteth at table? but I am in the midst of you as he that serveth. Ye are they who have continued with me during my trials. And I appoint you, as my Father hath appointed me, a kingdom; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and be seated on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And to the angel of the church which is at Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet like the molten brass; I know thy deeds, and thy love, and thy charity to the poor, and thy faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and that the last are more abundant than the first. Yet I have a few things against thee, because thou hast suffered that woman Jezabel, calling herself a prophetess, to teach, and to lead my servants into error, to commit whoredom, and eat the idol sacrifices. read more.
And I gave her a space that she should repent of her whoredom, and she hath not repented. Behold, I am about to cast her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. And I will slay her children by death; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searcheth the reins and the hearts: and I will give to you, even to every one, according to your works. But to you I say, and to the rest that are at Thyatira, as many as do not hold this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak, I will lay upon them no other burden. Nevertheless that which you have, hold fast till I come. And he who overcometh, and perseveres in my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations; he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as a potter's vessels they shall be broken in pieces, even as I have received authority from my Father: and I will give him the star of the morning.

They answered and said unto him, Thou wast wholly born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be slain, and after three days rise again.

NOW when the morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus how they might put him to death. And having bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him, as he was teaching, demanding, By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?

AND immediately the chief priests having held a council in the morning, with the elders, and scribes, and the whole sanhedrim, after binding Jesus, led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.

Then were the chief priests and scribes, and the elders of the people gathered together in the palace of the high-priest, called Caiaphas. And they consulted together, how they might seize Jesus by guile, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be a tumult among the people.

And if any man be hungry, let him eat at home; that ye meet not together for condemnation. And the other matters I will regulate when I come.

Then the apostles and presbyters were assembled to consider of this matter.

For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no other burden except these things which are of absolute necessity;

for if a man knoweth not how to order his own family, how shall he take proper care of the church of God?

REBUKE not harshly an aged man, but admonish him as a father; the younger men as brethren;

Jesus answered and said to him, If any man love me, he will observe my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, doth not observe my sayings: and the word which ye are hearing is not mine, but of him that sent me. These things have I spoken to you, while I continue among you. read more.
But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, which I have spoken to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I to you. Let not your heart be agitated, nor shrink back through fear. Ye have heard that I told you, I am going away, though I am coming again to you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I am going to the Father: because my Father is greater than I. And now I have informed you before it comes to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe. I shall not speak many things more with you: for the ruler of this world is coming, though in me he hath no part.

And if now our gospel be hid, it is hid from those who are lost: among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dart its bright beams upon them.

Yet I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I went not away, the Comforter would not come to you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. And when he cometh, he will convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin first, because they believe not in me; read more.
then of righteousness, because I am going to the Father, so ye see me no more; and of judgment, because the ruler of this world hath sentence pronounced on him.

But we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are destroying themselves: but we speak the wisdom of God, which had been hid in mystery, which God predestined before the worlds were, for our glory: which none of the rulers of this world have known: for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene:

SO after five days Ananias the high-priest went down with the elders, and a certain rhetorician, Tertullus, who made their appearance before the governor against Paul.

And having bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

An heretical person after a first and second admonition reject;

of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over unto Satan, that they may be corrected, so as to blaspheme no more.

NOW I Paul myself exhort you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who, when present, am indeed lowly among you, but being absent, am bold towards you.

to deliver such a one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

I have told you before, and I repeat it, as when I was present the second time, and now absent, I write to those who have sinned already, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare you:

And I saw a great white throne, and one sat upon it, from whose presence fled the earth and the heaven, and no place was found for them.

But I say to thee, Swear not at all; neither by the heaven; for it is the throne of God:

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of the world are become our Lord's, and his Messiah's, and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty presbyters, who were seated before God upon their thrones, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give thanks to thee, Lord the Almighty God, who is and who was, and who is coming, because thou hast assumed thy great power, and hast set up the throne of thy kingdom.

whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins soever ye retain, they are retained.

And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever things ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

So as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them for their observance the ordinances decreed by the apostles and presbyters that were at Jerusalem.

Obey your presidents, and be subject to them: for they are vigilant for your souls, as being to render an account, that they may do it with joy, and not groaning: for that would be disadvantageous for you.

REMIND them to be subject to princes and those invested with authority, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work,

LET every soul be subject to the superior powers: for there is no power but from God; the existing powers are appointed by God. Wherefore he that sets himself against authority, resists the ordinance of God: and they who resist shall receive to themselves condemnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from it: read more.
for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou doest that which is evil, tremble! for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to inflict wrath on him that practises what is evil. Wherefore there is a necessity for being in subjection, not only for fear of wrath, but also for conscience sake. For on this account pay ye taxes also: for they are God's ministers, continually employed on this very service. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.

tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not? But Jesus knew their wicked design, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the money for the tribute; and they brought him a denarius. read more.
And he saith unto them, Whose figure is this and inscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he to them, Render therefore to Caesar, the things which are Caesar's; and to God, the things which are God's.

Then said he to them, Pay therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.

Be subject therefore to every human constitution for the Lord's sake; whether to a king as the supreme magistrate; or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of wicked doers, but the praise of those who do well. For such is the will of God, that by well doing ye hold under restraint the ignorance of foolish men: read more.
as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for wicked practices; but as being servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Then went one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, and said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? Then they placed before him thirty pieces of silver.

Then Judas who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repenting, carried back the thirty silver pieces to the chief priests and the elders, saying, I have sinned, in betraying innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

NOW it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole land should be registered.

Be subject therefore to every human constitution for the Lord's sake; whether to a king as the supreme magistrate; or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of wicked doers, but the praise of those who do well.

LET every soul be subject to the superior powers: for there is no power but from God; the existing powers are appointed by God. Wherefore he that sets himself against authority, resists the ordinance of God: and they who resist shall receive to themselves condemnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from it: read more.
for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou doest that which is evil, tremble! for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to inflict wrath on him that practises what is evil. Wherefore there is a necessity for being in subjection, not only for fear of wrath, but also for conscience sake. For on this account pay ye taxes also: for they are God's ministers, continually employed on this very service. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.

When Pilate saw that it was of no use to contend, but that rather a tumult was rising, he took water, and washed his hands before the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man: ye must answer for it.

Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews clamoured, saying, If thou release this fellow, thou art no friend of Caesar's: every one who professes himself a king, speaks in opposition to Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard this speech, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat, in a place called the Stone Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith to the Jews, Behold your King! read more.
But they cried vociferously, Away with him, away! crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them, that he should be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away.

And removing him, he raised up unto them David to be king; respecting whom also he spake testifying, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who shall perform all my intentions."

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread?

Ye hypocrites, well hath Isaiah prophesied concerning you, saying, This people draweth nigh to me with their mouths, and honoureth me with the lips, but their heart is far distant from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines the commandments of men.

AND the Pharisees, and some of the scribes, who came from Jerusalem, collected together around him. And seeing some of his disciples eating bread with hands unclean, that is, unwashed, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands to the wrist, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

And the king immediately sending a centinel, commanded his head to be brought thither: and he went, and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.

Indeed he had also entertained hope that money would be given him by Paul, in order to release him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and conversed with him.