What Does the Bible Say About Citizens?

“Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. gods: or, judges”

“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. Ethiopian: or, Cushite married: Heb. taken”

“And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:”

“And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.”

“And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.”

“When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,”

“And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. gathered: Heb. were called”

“That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. of sweet: Chaldee, of rest”

“And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. to banishment: Chaldee, to rooting out”

“And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away. forfeited: Heb. devoted”

“In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. Bigthan: or, Bigthana the door: Heb. the threshold”

“Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?”

“In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.”

“The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.”

“The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.”

“In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.”

“An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.”

“Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.”

“The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.”

“The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.”

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. for: or, and hath grace in his lips”

“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:”

“My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: them: Heb. changers”

“Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: Put: Heb. Set not out thy glory”

“For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.”

“By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.”

“I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.”

“Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.”

“Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?”

“If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.”

“Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber : for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. thought: or, conscience”

“And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”

“And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not. to slay: Heb. to strike thee in soul?”

“Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;”

“And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? tribute: called in the original, didrachma, being in value fifteen pence sterling; about thirty seven cents”

“He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?”

“Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.”

“Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. a piece: or, a stater: it is half an ounce of silver, in value two shillings and six pence, sterling; about fifty five cents”

“Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”

“But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”

“Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. penny: in value seven pence halfpenny”

“And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? superscription: or, inscription”

“They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.”

“And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

“Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. penny: valuing of our money seven pence halfpenny”

“And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.”

“And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.”

“And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.”

“Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?”

“But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?”

“Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.”

“And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.”

“For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. obeyed: or, believed”

“After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. obeyed: or, believed”

“But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans , and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.”

“And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? a worshipper: Gr. the temple keeper”

“Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.”

“For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.”

“Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. the law: or, the court days are kept”

“But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. lawful: or, ordinary”

“For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.”

“And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.”

“Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?”

“And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

“Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.”

“Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.”

“Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.”

“Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.”

“Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.”

“To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face , and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.”

“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”

“Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:”

“Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.”

“For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”

“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: conversation: or, we live or conduct ourselves as citizens of heaven, or, for obtaining heaven”

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; exhort: or, desire”

“For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. authority: or, eminent place”

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;”

“Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”

“For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”

“As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. using: Gr. having”

“Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh , despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.”