18 Bible Verses about Government

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, write, "these things saith the AMEN, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. but since thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. read more.
you say you are rich, and have increased your gain, and have need of nothing; but you do not consider that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel thee to purchase of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayst be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayst be cloathed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and an ointment for thine eyes to make you see clear. as many as I love, I rebuke and chastise: be warm therefore with zeal, and repent. behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, I will sup with him, and he shall afterwards be entertain'd by me. to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my father in his throne.

I therefore bear with every thing for the sake of the converts, that they may obtain that salvation, which Jesus Christ has procur'd us, even eternal glory. it is an undoubted truth, that if we die for him, we shall live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign: if we renounce him,

the son of man indeed must die, as it was decreed: but wo to that man by whom he is betrayed. upon this they began to enquire of one another, which of them it was that should do such an action. Now there had been a dispute among the disciples, which of them should be accounted the greatest. read more.
Jesus therefore told them, the kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they, who are invested with their authority, take the title of benefactors. but you must not be such: the greatest of you must be as the junior, and he that governs as he that serves. for who is greatest, he that sits at table, or he that waits? is it not the person at table? yet I am among you as one that serves. but since you did not abandon me in my trials, I commit the kingdom to you, as my father committed it to me; that you may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom, and seated on thrones may judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira, write, "THESE things saith the son of God, whose eyes are like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass; I know thy works, your charitable offices, your faith, and your patience, and that your last works exceed the first. notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel, who stiles herself a prophetess, and teaches and seduces my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. read more.
I gave her space to repent of her fornication, but she repented not. behold, I will confine her to her bed, and those that commit adultery with her I will severely afflict, except they repent of their actions. I will strike her children dead; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searcheth the reins and the heart: and I will give to every one of you according to your works. but I say to the rest that are in Thyatira, who do not follow this doctrine, and have not been initiated in the depths, as they are called, of satan, I will put upon you no other burden, but what you have: hold that fast till I come. he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: he shall rule them with a rod of iron: as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, according to the power I have received of my father. I will even give him the lustre of the morning-star.

they answered, you were a vicious fellow from your very birth, and do you pretend to preach to us? and then they excommunicated him.

At length he began to inform them, that the son of man should suffer many indignities, be rejected by the chief priests, Scribes, and senators, be even put to death, and after three days should rise again.

As soon as it was day, all the chief priests and senators of the people consulted measures against Jesus how they might put him to death. and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor of Judea.

When he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the magistrates came to him as he was teaching, and said, by what authority dost thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

Early in the morning the chief priests, the rulers, and Scribes, even the whole council, after having deliberated together, caus'd Jesus to be bound, then led him away and deliver'd him to Pilate.

About this time the chief priests, and the elders of the people, assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and consulted how to seize Jesus by surprize, and take away his life. but they said, this must not be done on the feastday, for fear the people rise.

and if any one is press'd with hunger, let him eat at home; that ye may not otherwise meet with punishment. as for other matters, I will set them in order when I come.

The apostles therefore, and the presbyters assembled to deliberate upon this affair.

for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions;

for if a man is incapable of governing his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?

Don't treat a senior with harsh reproof, but exhort him as a father, and the young men, as brethren:

Jesus answered him, he that loves me, will observe my precepts: and my father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. he does not love me, who does not observe my precepts: for the doctrine which you have heard, is not mine, but the father's who sent me. this is what I have to tell you, for the little time that I am with you. read more.
but the advocate, the holy spirit, whom the father will send for my sake, he will explain every thing to you, and make you remember, all that I have told you. I bid you farewell! I give you my last farewell; but I do not give it out of common formality: don't be concern'd for me, or apprehensive for your selves. ye have heard me say, "I am going away, and shall come again unto you." if ye loved me, ye would rejoice at my going to the father: for the father is greater than I. this I have told you now, before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe. my conversation will now be but short with you, for the prince of the world is coming:

but if our gospel be obscure, it is so only to those who are lost: to those unbelievers, whose minds the God of this world has so blinded, that the glorious lustre of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, does not enlighten them.

nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I do not go away, the advocate will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him to you. and when he is come, he will convince the world of sin, of justice, of judgment: of sin, because they believ'd not on me; read more.
of justice, because I shall be with my father, and ye shall see me no more expos'd: of judgment, because the prince of this world is condemn'd.

However, what we preach is wisdom, to those who are thoroughly instructed: yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who will soon come to nothing. but we explain that mysterious plan of divine wisdom, which God had contriv'd before the ages, for our glory: which none of the rulers of this age understood: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

In the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod tetrarch of Gallilee: Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis: and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene:

Five days after the sovereign pontiff Ananias arriv'd and some of the senators, who with one Tertullus a pleader, appear'd before the governour as plaintiffs against Paul.

and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor of Judea.

A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition, avoid:

Hymeneus and Alexander are of that number, whom I have deliver'd to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

I who am a person of a mean presence, when among you, but exert myself upon your account, when absent; I Paul intreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, not to let me exert that authority,

to deliver him up to satan, to suffer corporal punishment, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I told you once before, and now being absent I write to forewarn you and all that have sinned, that when I shall arrive, I will not spare them;

Then I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose presence the earth and the heaven fled away, so that they disappear'd.

but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne:

The seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, crying, "the kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." then the four and twenty elders, who sat before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, "we give thee thanks, O Lord God almighty, who. art, and who wast; because thou hast assum'd thy great power, and hast reigned.

whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye leave unpardoned, they are lest unpardoned."

and I will give you the keys of the gospel-kingdom: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

I declare unto you, "whatever things ye disallow on earth, are disallow'd by heaven: and whatever ye authorize on earth, are authoriz'd by heaven."

as they pass'd through the cities, they recommended it to the faithful to observe the decisions, made by the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem.

Confide in your guides, and be respectful: that they who are vigilant, as being accountable for your souls, may discharge themselves with cheerfulness, and not with anxiety, which would be to your prejudice.

Admonish them to be subject to princes and to magistrates, to obey their orders, and to exert their virtue and loyalty upon all occasions.

Be every one of you subject to the ruling powers. for every ruler holds of God: the rulers in being are constituted by God. so that he who opposes the ruler, disobeys the orders of God: and will be punished too for resisting, by those very powers. rulers are not a terror to virtue, but to vice. would you then live without any dread of the civil power? do what is right, and you shall have his commendation. read more.
for his administration is appointed by God for your good. but if you do wrong, you have reason to be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: he being the minister of God, to execute punishment upon malefactors. wherefore you ought to submit not only from an apprehension of punishment, but from a principle of conscience. for this is the reason why you also pay tribute, because under God, they are continually attending upon the publick administration. render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, reverence to whom reverence, honour to whom honour.

tell us therefore, what is your opinion? is it lawful to pay tribute to Cesar, or no? but Jesus perceiving their malice, said, why, hypocrites, would you insnare me? shew me the tribute money. and they brought him a penny. read more.
and he said unto them, whose image and inscription is this? they answer'd, Cesar's. then said he to them, render therefore unto Cesar, the things which are Cesar's: and unto God, the things that are God's.

render then, said he, to Cesar, what belongs to Cesar, and to God, what belongs to God.

and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill, and to encourage those who do well. for such is the divine pleasure, that by your good conduct you obviate the cavils of inconsiderate read more.
men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants of God. Be respectful to all, love your brethren, fear God, and honour the king.

Then one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot by name, went to the chief priests, and said, what will ye give me, and I will deliver him to you? and they promised him thirty pieces of silver.

At the same time, Judas who had betrayed him, finding that he was condemned, repented, and carried back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and senators, saying, I have sinned in betraying the blood of the innocent: and they said, what is it to us? you must look to that.

At that time, Cesar Augustus published an edict, to make a register of the Roman empire.

and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill,

Be every one of you subject to the ruling powers. for every ruler holds of God: the rulers in being are constituted by God. so that he who opposes the ruler, disobeys the orders of God: and will be punished too for resisting, by those very powers. rulers are not a terror to virtue, but to vice. would you then live without any dread of the civil power? do what is right, and you shall have his commendation. read more.
for his administration is appointed by God for your good. but if you do wrong, you have reason to be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: he being the minister of God, to execute punishment upon malefactors. wherefore you ought to submit not only from an apprehension of punishment, but from a principle of conscience. for this is the reason why you also pay tribute, because under God, they are continually attending upon the publick administration. render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, reverence to whom reverence, honour to whom honour.

Pilate perceiving he was so far from prevailing, that they were more tumultuous, he took water, and washed his hands before all the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: you are answerable for it.

upon this, Pilate propos'd to release him: but the Jews cried out, if you let this man go, you are not Cesar's friend: he that sets up for king, opposes Cesar. Pilate therefore hearing them talk at this rate, order'd Jesus to be brought forth, and then sat down in a place of Mosaic work on his tribunal, in Syriac call'd Gabbatha. it was then about the sixth hour of the day before the sabbath of the passover: and he said to the Jews, behold your king. read more.
but they cried out, away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate said to them, shall I crucify your king? the chief priests answered, we have no king but Cesar. upon which he delivered him up to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took Jesus and led him away.

God removed Saul, and rais'd up David to be their king, to whom he gave this testimonial, " I have found David the son of Jesse: he is a man most acceptable to me, and he will execute all my orders."

why do your disciples violate the tradition of our ancestors, in not washing their hands when they eat bread?

the prophecy of Esaias exactly suits such hypocrites as you; "this people, says he, draw nigh to me, they honour me with their lips: while their hearts are far from me. but in vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."

The Pharisees, and certain Scribes from Jerusalem, came in a body to Jesus; when observing that some of his disciples were eating with profane hands, that is, without having wash'd them, they found fault. for the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, in pursuance of their antient traditions, never eat till they have wash'd their hands up to their elbows.

of God. Be respectful to all, love your brethren, fear God, and honour the king.

but immediately dispatch'd the proper officer with orders to bring the head of John the Baptist. accordingly he went, and beheaded him in the prison, and bringing the head in a charger, he presented it to the young lady, who gave it to her mother:

this he frequently did, and convers'd with him upon the presumption that Paul would have