43 Bible Verses about Civil authorities

Jesus answered, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given unto thee from above. Therefore he that delivered me unto thee, is more in sin."

Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power, but of God. The powers that be, are ordained of God.

When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD answered him, "See, this is the man whom I spake to thee of. This same shall reign over my people."

And then the LORD said unto Samuel, "How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have cast him away from reigning over Israel? Fill a horn with ointment, and come: I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have spied me a king among his sons."

He chose David also his servant, and took him away from the sheepfolds. As he was following the ewes great with young, he took him, that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

Through me, kings reign: through me, princes make just laws. Through me, lords bear rule, and all judges of the earth execute judgment.

And now will I deliver all these lands into the power of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant. The beasts also of the field shall I give him to do him service.

and say unto them, 'Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and call for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon my servant, and will set his seat upon these stones that I have hid, and he shall spread his tent over them.

He changeth the times and ages; he putteth down kings, he setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and understanding to those that understand;

This errand of the watcher, is a commandment grounded and sought out, in the counsel of him that is most holy: to learn men for to understand, that the highest hath power over the kingdoms of men; and giveth them to whom it liketh him, and bringeth the very outcasts of men over them.'

O king, God the highest gave unto Nebuchadnezzar, thy father, the dignity of a king, with worship and honor: So that all people, kindreds and tongues stood in awe and fear of him, by reason of the high estate that he had sent him. For why? He slew whom he would; he smote, whom it pleased him. Again: whom he would, he set up; and whom he list, he put down. But because his heart was so proud, and his stomach set so fast unto wilfulness: he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his majesty was taken from him.read more.
He was shot out from among men, his heart was like a beast's heart, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: he was fain to eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: till he knew, that the highest had power upon the kingdoms of men, and setteth over them, whom he list.

For he is the minister of God, for thy wealth. But and if thou do evil, then fear: for he beareth not a sword for nought; but is the minister of God, to take vengeance on them that do evil.

Thus sayeth the LORD unto Cyrus his anointed, whom I have taken by the righthand, to subdue nations before him: I will loose the girdles of kings, that they shall open the gates before thy face, and not to shut their doors.

Lo, I will send out, and call for all the people that dwell in the North, sayeth the LORD, and will prepare Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon my servant, and will bring them upon this land, and upon all that dwell therein, and upon all the people that are about them, and will utterly root them out. I will make of them a wilderness, a mockage, and a continual desert.

And even for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God's ministers, serving for the same purpose.

The just delighteth in doing the thing that is right, but the workers of wickedness abhor the same.

Submit yourselves unto all manner ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be unto the King as unto the chief head; other unto rulers, as unto them that are sent of him, for the punishment of evil doers: but for the laud of them that well do.

so that he which sheddeth man's blood, shall have his blood shed by man again: for God made man after his own likeness.

And whosoever will not diligently fulfill the law of thy God, and the king's law, shall have his judgment for the deed, whether it be unto death, or to be banished, or to be condemned in goods, or to be put in prison."

For he shall deliver the poor when he crieth, and the needy that hath no help. He shall be favorable to the simple and poor; he shall preserve the souls of such as be in adversity. He shall deliver their souls from extortion and wrong, and dear shall their blood be in his sight.

So he fed them with a faithful and true heart, and ruled them with all the diligence of his power.

The king's disfavor is like the roaring of a Lion, but his friendship is like the dew upon the grass.

With true judgment the king setteth up the land; but if he be a man that taketh gifts, he turneth it upside down.

If I have hurt them, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. If none of these things are, whereof they accuse me, no man ought to deliver me to them. I appeal unto Caesar."

For rulers are not to be feared for good works but for evil. Wilt thou be without fear of the power? Do well then: and so shalt thou be praised of the same. For he is the minister of God, for thy wealth. But and if thou do evil, then fear: for he beareth not a sword for nought; but is the minister of God, to take vengeance on them that do evil.

for kings, and for all that are in authority that we may live a quiet and a peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king, and keep no company with them that slide back from his fear: For their destruction shall come suddenly, and who knoweth the fall of them both?

Warn them, that they submit themselves to rule and power, to obey the officers, that they be ready unto all good works,

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that were wont to gather poll money, came to Peter and said, "Doth your Master pay tribute?" He said, "Yea." And when he was come into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, "What thinkest thou Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take tribute, or poll money? Of their children, or of strangers?" Peter said unto him, "Of strangers." Then said Jesus unto him again, "Then are the children free.read more.
Nevertheless, lest we should offend them, go to the sea and cast in thine angle, and take the fish that first cometh up: and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of twenty pence: that take, and pay for me and thee."

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel, how they might tangle him in his words. And they sent unto him their disciples with Herod's servants, saying, "Master, we know that thou art true, and that thou teachest the way of God truly, neither carest for any man, for thou considerest not men's estate. Tell us, therefore, how thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"read more.
Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why tempt ye me ye hypocrites? Let me see the tribute money." And they took him a penny. And he said unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?" They said unto him, "Caesar's." Then said he unto them, "Give therefore to Caesar, that which is Caesar's: and give unto God, that which is God's."

And they sent unto him certain of the Pharisees with Herod's servants, to take him in his words. And as soon as they were come, they said unto him, "Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: For thou considerest not the degree of men, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not? Ought we to give, or ought we not to give?" He understood their dissimulation, and said unto them, "Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it."read more.
And they brought him one. And he said unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?" And they said unto him, "Caesar's." And Jesus answered, and said unto them, "Then give to Caesar that which belongeth to Caesar: and give to God that which pertaineth to God." And they marveled at him.

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves perfect, to take him in his words, and to deliver him unto the power, and authority of the deputy. And they asked him saying, "Master, we know that thou sayest, and teachest right, neither considerest thou any man's degree, but teachest the way of God truly. Is it lawful for us to give Caesar tribute, or no?"read more.
He perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, "Why tempt ye me? Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." And he said unto them, "Give then unto Caesar, that which belongeth unto Cesar: And to God, that which pertaineth to God."

Peter and the other apostles answered, and said, "We ought more to obey God than men.

Notwithstanding, the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them: but saved the men children.

And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, "Let me have thy vineyard, to make me a garden of herbs thereof, because it lieth so nigh my house: and I will give thee a better vineyard for it: or if it please thee I will give thee, the worth of it in silver." But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that from me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee."

But Daniel was at a point with himself, that he would not be defiled through the king's meat, nor the wine which he drunk. And this he desired of the chief chamberlain, lest he should defile himself.

Then spake Nebuchadnezzar, and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: which hath sent his angel, and defended his servants that put their trust in him: that have altered the king's commandment, and jeopardized their bodies thereupon, rather than they would serve or worship any other god except their own God only.

All the great estates of the realm - as the princes, dukes, senators and judges - are determined to put out a commandment of the king, and to make a sure statute. Namely, that whoso desireth any petition, either of any god or man within this thirty days, except it be only of thee, O king: the same person may be cast into the lions' den. Wherefore, O king, confirm thou this statute, and make a writing: that the thing which the Medes and Persians have ordained be not altered nor broken." So Darius made the writing, and confirmed it.read more.
Now when Daniel understood that the writing was made, he went into his house: and the windows of his hall toward Jerusalem stood open. There kneeled he down upon his knees, three times a day: there he made his petition, and praised his God, like as his manner was to do afore time.

They said unto him, "Caesar's." Then said he unto them, "Give therefore to Caesar, that which is Caesar's: and give unto God, that which is God's."

And Jesus answered, and said unto them, "Then give to Caesar that which belongeth to Caesar: and give to God that which pertaineth to God." And they marveled at him.

And he said unto them, "Give then unto Caesar, that which belongeth unto Cesar: And to God, that which pertaineth to God."

But Peter and John answered unto them and said, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you more than God, judge ye.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his father and mother, because they saw he was a proper child: neither feared they the king's commandment.