18 Bible Verses about Government

And to the angel of the church in Laodicea, write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know your works, that you are neither cold, nor hot: I wish that you were cold, or hot. So, then, because you are luke-warm, and neither cold, nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. read more.
Because you say I am rich, and abound in wealth, and have need of nothing, and know not that you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked, I counsel you to buy of me gold that has been tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness may not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes, I will give to sit with me in my throne, even as I also have overcome, and have taken my seat with my father in his throne.

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Assuredly true is the saying: If indeed we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we are patient, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us;

And the Son of man goes, as it is determined; but alas for that man by whom he is delivered up. And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it could be that was about to do this thing. And there had been also a contention among them, which of them was thought to be the greatest. read more.
And he said to them: The kings of the nations have dominion over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But you shall not be so; but let the greatest among you be as the younger, and him that is chief, as he that serves. For which is greater, he that reclines at table, or he that serves? Is not he that reclines at table? But I am among you as one that serves. You are they that have continued with me in my trials; and I appoint to you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed to me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira, write: These things, says the Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass; I know your works, and your love, and your faith, and your service, and your patience, and your works, the last greater than the first. But I have against you that you suffer that woman Jezebel, who calls her self a prophetess, and teaches and deceives my servants to practice lewdness, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. read more.
And I have given her time to repent; and she will not repent of her lewdness. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction, unless they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searches the reins and the hearts: and I will give to every one of you according to your works. But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, and who have not known the depths of Satan, (as they call them,) I will lay on you no other burden: but what you have, hold fast till I come. And to him that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, will I give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in pieces, as I have received from my Father: and I will give him the morning star.

They answered and said to him: You were wholly born in sins, and do you teach us? And they cast him out.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be put to death, and after three days rise again.

When the morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people held a consultation against Jesus, that they might put him to death. And they bound him and led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

And after he had come into the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said: By what authority do you these things? And who gave you this authority?

And forthwith in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, having held a consultation, and having bound Jesus, led him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

Then the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people met together at the palace of the chief priest, who was called Caiaphas. And they consulted together that they might take Jesus by craft and kill him. But they said: Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult among the people.

and if any one is hungry, let him eat at home, that you come not together for condemnation. But other things I will set in order when I come.

And the apostles and elders came together to deliberate about this matter.

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

for if a man knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?

Do not rebuke an elderly man, but entreat him as a father; the younger men, as brothers:

Jesus answered and said to him: If any one loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him. He that loves me not, keeps not my words; and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me. These things have I spoken to you, while I am yet with you. read more.
But the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have spoken to you. Peace I leave to you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, and let it not be afraid. You have heard that I said to you, I am going away, and am coming again to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I go to the Father; for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. I will not talk much more with you; for the prince of this world is coming, and has nothing in me.

But if our gospel is vailed, it is vailed among the lost, whose unbelieving minds the god of this age has darkened, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine to them.

But yet I tell you the truth: it is profitable for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the Paraclete will not come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you. And when he has come, he will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on me; read more.
of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Yet we speak wisdom among the perfect; but not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are brought to nought: but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even that which had been hidden, which God predestined before the ages, for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,

And after five days, Ananias the chief priest came down with the elders and a certain orator, Tertullus; and they informed the governor against Paul.

And they bound him and led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

A man that is a sectary, reject, after the first and second admonition,

whom I have delivered to Satan, that they may learn not to revile.

Now I, the same Paul, who, when present among you, am timid, but when absent, am bold toward you, entreat you, by the mildness and gentleness of Christ;

that we deliver such a one over to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

I have foretold, and now the second time, as if I was present, though being absent, I foretell to those who have sinned, and to all others, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them.

But I say to you, Swear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying: The kingdom of the world has become our Lord's and his Christ s, and he shall reign from age to age. And the twenty-four elders that sat before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, saying: We give thee thanks, Lord God Almighty, who art, and who wast, because thou hast taken thy great power, and hast reigned.

Whosever sins you forgive, they are forgiven them: whosever sins you retain, they are retained.

And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

Verily, I say to you, my disciples, Whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been resolved on by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, that they might keep them.

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive: for they watch for your souls, as those who must give an account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for that would be fatal to you.

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and authorities, to obey rulers, to be ready for every good work,

Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but from God: the authorities that are, have been appointed by God. Therefore, he that resists the authority, resists the appointment of God; and those who resist shall receive to themselves condemnation. For rulers are not a terror to works that are good, but to those which are evil. Will you, then, not be afraid of the authority? Do that which is good, and you shall receive praise from the same. read more.
For he is the minister of God to you for that which is good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God to inflict punishment on him that does evil. Wherefore, it is necessary to be subject, not only because of punishment, but also for conscience sake. On this very account, too, pay tribute also: for they are the public servants of God, attending continually to this very thing. Render, therefore, to all their dues; tribute, to whom tribute is due; custom, to whom custom; fear, to whom fear; honor, to whom honor is due.

Tell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said to them: "Why do you tempt me, hypocrites? Show me the tribute-money. And they brought him a denarius. read more.
And he said to them: Whose image and superscription is this? They said to him: Caesar's. Then he said to them: Give, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar s, and to God the things that are God s.

He said to them: Give, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar s, and to God the things that are God s.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme ruler, or to governors, as those sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of those who do well. For such is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men; read more.
as being free, and yet not using your freedom as a cloak for malice, but as servants of God. Honor all men; love the brotherhood; reverence God; honor the king.

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said: What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they weighed to him thirty pieces of silver.

Then Judas, who had delivered him up, when he saw that he was condemned, stung by remorse, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying: I have sinned in having delivered up innocent blood. They replied: What is that to us? You will see to that.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabitants of the land should be enrolled.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme ruler, or to governors, as those sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of those who do well.

Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but from God: the authorities that are, have been appointed by God. Therefore, he that resists the authority, resists the appointment of God; and those who resist shall receive to themselves condemnation. For rulers are not a terror to works that are good, but to those which are evil. Will you, then, not be afraid of the authority? Do that which is good, and you shall receive praise from the same. read more.
For he is the minister of God to you for that which is good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God to inflict punishment on him that does evil. Wherefore, it is necessary to be subject, not only because of punishment, but also for conscience sake. On this very account, too, pay tribute also: for they are the public servants of God, attending continually to this very thing. Render, therefore, to all their dues; tribute, to whom tribute is due; custom, to whom custom; fear, to whom fear; honor, to whom honor is due.

When Pilate saw that he gained nothing, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, and said: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; you will see to it.

After this Pilate sought to release him. But the Jews cried out, saying: If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Every one that makes himself a king, speaks against Caesar Then Pilate, when he heard that word, led Jesus out, and sat on the judgment-seat, in a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha; it was the preparation for the passover, and about the third hour; 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 Caesar Then he, therefore, delivered him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; to whom he gave this testimony: I have found David the son of Jesse a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.

Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.

Hypocrites! well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain, do they worship me, teaching precepts, the commandments of men.

And there came together to him the Pharisees, and some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem: and when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with common, that is, with unwashed hands: (for the Pharisees and all the Jews eat not, unless they wash their hands carefully, because they hold the tradition of the elders:

Honor all men; love the brotherhood; reverence God; honor the king.

And the king immediately sent one of his guards, and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish, and gave it to the maiden; and the maiden gave it to her mother.

He hoped, at the same time, that money would have been given him by Paul, to release him. For this reason, he sent for him very frequently, and conversed with him.