42 Bible Verses about Authority, of human institutions

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. For they changed the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause, God gave them up to dishonorable affections. For even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.

And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

In those days there was no king in Israel. Every man did the right in his own eyes.

For it is a servant of God to you for good. For if you practice evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, a revenger for wrath on him who does evil.

Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but of God; the authorities that exist are ordained by God. So that the one resisting the authority resists the ordinance of God; and the ones who resist will receive judgment to themselves.

and surely the blood of your lives will I require. At the hand of every animal will I require it, and at the hand of man. At the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, his blood shall be shed by man; for He made man in the image of God.

And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, so that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.

O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor. And for the majesty that He gave him, all people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whom he would, and whom he would he kept alive. And whom he would, he set up; and whom he would, he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was put down from the throne of his kingdom, and they took his glory from him.read more.
And he was driven from the sons of men. And his heart was made like the animals, and his dwelling was with the wild asses. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the heavens, until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that He appoints over it whomever He will.

Jesus answered, You could have no authority against Me unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.

Then be in obedience to every ordinance of men, because of the Lord, whether to a king as supreme,

So says Jehovah to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have made strong in order to humble nations before him. And I will loosen the loins of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.

behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, says Jehovah, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant; and will bring them against this land, and against its people, and against all these nations all around. And I will completely destroy them, and make them a waste, and a hissing, and everlasting ruins.

And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant. And I have also given him the beast of the field to serve him.

And say to them, So says Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden. And he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

For because of this you also pay taxes. For they are God's servants, always giving attention to this very thing.

for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

or to governors as sent by Him for vengeance on evildoers, but for praise on well-doers.

Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but of God; the authorities that exist are ordained by God.

Therefore tell us; what do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why do you tempt Me, hypocrites? Show Me the tribute money. And they brought a denarius to Him.read more.
And He said to them, Whose image and inscription is this? They said to Him, Caesar's. Then He said to them, Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.

And coming, they said to Him, Teacher, we know that you are true and you care about no one. For you do not look to the face of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, Why do you tempt Me? Bring me a denarius so that I may see. And they brought it. And He said to them, Whose image and inscription is this? And they said to Him, Caesar's.read more.
And answering Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at Him.

Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar or not? But He perceived their craftiness and said to them, Why do you tempt Me? Show Me a coin. Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, Caesar's.read more.
And He said to them, Therefore render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.

Therefore you must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes. For they are God's servants, always giving attention to this very thing. Therefore give to all their dues; to the one due tax, the tax; tribute to whom tribute is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

Put them in mind to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to every good work,

Then be in obedience to every ordinance of men, because of the Lord, whether to a king as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him for vengeance on evildoers, but for praise on well-doers.

My son, fear Jehovah and the king; and do not fellowship with those who are given to change;

Therefore give to all their dues; to the one due tax, the tax; tribute to whom tribute is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

Honor all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right before God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved alive the male children.

And Naboth said to Ahab, Far be it from me, by Jehovah, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.

But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up.

Then they came near and spoke before the king concerning the king's ban, Have you not signed a ban that every man who shall ask a petition of any god or man within thirty days, except of you, O king, shall be thrown into the lion's den? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.

They said to Him, Caesar's. Then He said to them, Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.

And answering Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at Him.

And He said to them, Therefore render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.

By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child. And they were not afraid of the king's commandments.

First of all, then, I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be exiled, and pray to Jehovah for it. For in its peace you shall have peace.

And day coming, the judges sent the floggers, saying, Let those men go. And the jailer spoke these words to Paul: The judges have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said to them, Having beaten us publicly, men who are Romans and uncondemned, they threw us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! But coming themselves, let them bring us out.read more.
And the floggers reported these words to the judges. And hearing that they were Romans, they were afraid. And coming they begged them. And bringing them out, they asked them to depart out of the city.

And they listened to him until this word, and then they lifted up their voice, saying, Take such a one from the earth! For it is not fitting that he should live. And as they shouted and tore their garments, and threw dust into the air, the chiliarch commanded him to be brought into the fortress, saying for him to be examined by scourging, so that he might know why they cried out so against him.read more.
And as they stretched him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned? And hearing, coming near the centurion reported to the chiliarch, saying, Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman. And coming up the chiliarch said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman? And He said, Yes. And the chiliarch answered, With a great sum I bought this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was even born free. Then immediately, those being about to examine him stood away from him. And the chiliarch also was afraid, fully knowing that he was a Roman, and that he had bound him.

Then entering the province, after three days Festus went from Caesarea to Jerusalem. And the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him asking a favor against him that he would send for him to Jerusalem, making a plot to kill him on way.read more.
Then indeed Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea; he himself would depart shortly. Then he said, those having power among you may go down with me. If there is a thing amiss in this man, let them accuse him. And staying among them more than ten days, going down to Caesarea, on the next day sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. And he having come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around and brought many charges against Paul, which they could not prove. Defending himself, Paul said, Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything. But Festus, wanting to please the Jews, answered Paul and said, Will you go up to Jerusalem and be judged there before me about these things? But Paul said, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. For if I am an offender or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing of which these accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar. Then conferring with the sanhedrin, Festus answered, You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go.