43 Bible Verses about Civil authorities

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.

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.

Samuel noticed Saul. Jehovah told him: There is the man I told you about. This man will govern my people.

Jehovah said to Samuel: How long will you mourn for Saul? After all I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Take oil in your vessel and go. I will send you to Jesse, the Beth-lehemite. I have a king from among his sons.

He chose his servant David. He took him from the sheep pens. He brought him from tending the ewes that had lambs so that David could be the shepherd of the people of Jacob, of Israel, the people who belonged to Jehovah.

Kings reign by me, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

It is joy to the righteous to do justice. Destruction will come to those who do evil.

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.

Whoever sheds the blood of man will have his blood shed by man. For man was made in the image of God.

If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, take care that punishment is given to him. This is by death or by driving him from his country or by taking away his goods or by putting him in prison.

When he cries he will deliver the needy and the poor who have no helper. He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the needy. He will redeem (rescue) them from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.

With unselfish devotion David became their shepherd. With skill he guided them.

The king's anger is like the roaring of a lion but his favor is like dew upon the grass.

The king establishes the land by justice. He who receives gifts overthrows it.

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.

For rulers are objects of fear, not to good works, but to the evil. Will you not have respect for the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from it. 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.

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.

My son, respect Jehovah and the king. Do not associate with those who want to change things. Their calamity will rise suddenly! Who knows the ruin from both of them?

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

They arrived at Capernaum. The collectors of the two-drachma tax asked Peter: Does your master make payment of the Temple tax? He said: Yes. When he entered the house, Jesus said to him: What is your opinion, Simon? Who pays the tax assessed by the kings of the earth? Is it from their sons or from other people? When he said: From other people, Jesus replied: Are the sons free of tax?read more.
We will not cause them trouble. Go to the sea, and let down a hook, and take the first fish you catch. You will see money (a stater coin) in its mouth. Give it to them for me and for you.

The Pharisees took counsel how they might trap him in his talk. They sent their disciples with the Herodians to Jesus. They said: Teacher we know you are truthful. You teach the way of God in truth. And you are not partial to the influence of men. Tell us what you think? Is it lawful to pay the poll tax to Caesar, or not?read more.
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. 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.

Pharisees and Herodians went to him that they might catch him in talk. 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.read more.
And they brought it. He said to them: Whose is this image and superscription? They said: Caesar'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.

They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous. The spies listened for something in his speech to deliver him up to the authority of the governor. Teacher, they said, we know that you are right in what you say and teach. You are not partial and do not play favorites. Rather you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?read more.
He perceived their craftiness, and replied: Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription does it have? They said, Caesar's. He said to them: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

Peter and the other apostles answered: We must obey God rather than men.

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

Ahab said to Naboth: Give me your garden so that I may have it for a garden of sweet plants. Since it is near my house let me give you a better vine-garden in exchange. If it seems good to you, let me give you its value in money. But Naboth said to Ahab, God forbid that I give you the heritage of my fathers.

Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's special food and wine. He requested permission from the officer in charge that he might not defile himself.

Nebuchadnezzar said: Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They violated the king's command and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

All the governors of the kingdom, the deputies and the governors, the counselors consulted together to establish a royal statute. They made a strong decree, that whoever prays to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree by signing the document. That it will not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered. King Darius signed the document for the decree.read more.
Daniel knew that the decree was signed. He went into his house. His windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem. He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, like he did before.

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.

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

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.