26 Bible Verses about Authority, of human institutions

So God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their own bodies; because they exchanged the truth of God for an untruth, and worshiped and served the creature, rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen. That is why God has given them up to passions of dishonor; for on the one hand their women actually changed the natural function of sex into that which is against nature;

For the ruler is God's minister appointed for your good. But if you are a wrong-doer, be afraid; he does not carry the sword to no purpose; he is God's servant, appointed to vengeance upon the guilty.

Every one should be in the higher authorities; for there is no authority apart from God. The authorities that now exist have been appointed by God. Therefore the man who rebels against authority is opposing the divine ordinances; and those who withstand will bring judgment on themselves.

"You would have no power over me," answered Jesus, "unless it had been given you from above. For this reason he who has betrayed me to you has the greater sin."

Submit yourselves, for the Lord's sake, to every human authority; whether it be to the Emperor as supreme ruler,

This too, is the reason why you pay taxes; because the authorities are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing.

for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and peaceful life in all godliness an gravity.

or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the encouragement of well-doers.

Every one should be in the higher authorities; for there is no authority apart from God. The authorities that now exist have been appointed by God.

"Give us your advice, then. Is it allowable to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" And Jesus, because he knew their malice, said: "Hypocrites! Why are you tempting me? Show me the tribute money." So they brought him a shilling.read more.
"Whose likeness and inscription is this?" he asked. "Caesar's," they answered. Then he said to them, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."

So when they came, they said: "Teacher, we know that you are sincere and are not afraid of any one, for you do not regard the face of men; nay, but you reach the way of God in truth. Is it right to pay poll-tax to Caesar or not? Shall we pay, or not pay?" But he, knowing well their hypocrisy, said to them. "Why are you testing me? Bring me a dollar for me to look at." And they brought it. "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" "Caesar's," they answered.read more.
And Jesus said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God, the things that are God's." They were amazed at him.

"Is it lawful for us to pay tribute to Caesar or not?" But he perceived their knavery and answered. "Show me a shilling. Whose image and superscription does it bear?" "Caesar's," they replied.read more.
"Then give to Caesar what belongs to him," he said, "to God give what is God's."

Wherefore you must needs be in subjection, not only because of fear, but also for conscience sake. This too, is the reason why you pay taxes; because the authorities are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing. Render to all their dues; taxes to whom taxes, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, and homage to whom homage is due.

Remind them to be submissive to their rulers and authorities; let them be obedient, ready for every good work;

Submit yourselves, for the Lord's sake, to every human authority; whether it be to the Emperor as supreme ruler, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the encouragement of well-doers.

Render to all their dues; taxes to whom taxes, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, and homage to whom homage is due.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Reverence God. Honor the Emperor.

But Peter and John said in reply. "Do you decide whether in the sight of God it is right to obey you rather than God;

"Caesar's," they answered. Then he said to them, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."

And Jesus said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God, the things that are God's." They were amazed at him.

"Then give to Caesar what belongs to him," he said, "to God give what is God's."

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

First of all then, I am urging that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered regularly for all men; for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and peaceful life in all godliness an gravity.

But in the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Let these men go." The jailer reported the words to Paul, saying. "The praetors have sent to release you; so come out, and go in peace." But Paul said: "They have flogged us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Roman citizens; and have thrown us into prison. Are they now going to get rid of us secretly? No, indeed! Let them come here, themselves and take us out."read more.
The lictors reported these words to the praetors, who were frightened when they heard that they were Romans. So they came and conciliated them, and after taking them out of prison, begged them to leave the town.

Until they heard this last statement, the people were listening to Paul, but now they roared out. "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He is not fit to live!" When they continued to shout, throwing their clothes into the air, and flinging dust around, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and examined under the lash, to learn for what reason the people were thus crying out against him.read more.
But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing near, "If a man is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned, is it lawful for you to scourge him?" When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him. "What are you intending to do? This man is a Roman citizen." So the tribune came to Paul and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said. "I paid a large sum to get this citizenship," said the tribune. "But I was citizen-born," said Paul. Then those who were about to scourge him, immediately left him. And the tribune too, was afraid, when he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, for he had had him bound.

Three days after Festus entered his province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. The high priest and the Jewish leaders laid charges against Paul before him. They urged him, asking it as a favor, to send for him to Jerusalem. They meant to lay in wait for him and kill him on the way.read more.
But Festus answered that Paul was in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon. "Let those then," he said, "who are in authority among you, go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him." After staying not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day, after taking his seat upon the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought. When he came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought a number of serious charges against him, which they could not prove. Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no crime against the Law of the Jews, against the Temple, or against Caesar." But Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Will you go up to Jerusalem and be tried there by me upon these charges?" "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal," answered Paul, "where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. "If I am a criminal and have done anything for which I ought to die, I do not object to die. But if none of their charges is true, no man can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar." Then Festus, after conferring with the council, answered. "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go."