
Miscellaneous
Bible Quotes About Civil Disobedience
18 Scripture verses about civil disobedience from the King James Version, with full verse text for study and meditation.
Scripture presents civil disobedience as a faithful response when earthly authority conflicts with obedience to God. The Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1:15 courageously defied Pharaoh's orders to preserve life, while Daniel and his companions in Daniel 3 and 6 demonstrated unwavering commitment to God through prayer and refusal to worship idols, even under threat of death. Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 22:17 acknowledges the legitimacy of civil obligations, yet the examples in Daniel reveal that God's commands take precedence when human laws demand compromise of faith.
Top 10 Bible Quotes About Civil Disobedience
- Exodus 1:15 — “And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:”
- Daniel 3:1 — “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.”
- Daniel 3:15 — “Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well...”
- Daniel 6:1 — “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;”
- Daniel 6:10 — “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave ...”
- Matthew 22:17 — “Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”
- John 19:11 — “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
- Acts 4:18 — “And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”
- Acts 5:27 — “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,”
- Acts 5:28 — “Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.”
Old Testament Quotes About Civil Disobedience (5)
“And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:”
“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.”
“Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”
“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;”
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime .”
New Testament Quotes About Civil Disobedience (13)
“Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”
“Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”
“And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,”
“Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.”
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
“And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. ordained: or, ordered”
“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. have: or, guide”
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
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