Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Civil Disobedience?
18 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Civil Disobedience in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about civil disobedience. This collection of 19 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Civil Disobedience
- 1Exodus 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:”
KJV - 2Daniel 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.”
KJV - 3Daniel 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: 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?”
KJV - 4Daniel 6:1
“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;”
KJV - 5Daniel 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 thanks before his God, as he did aforetime .”
KJV - 6Matthew 22:17
“Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”
KJV - 7John 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.”
KJV - 8Acts 4:18
“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”
KJV - 9Acts 5:27
“And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,”
KJV - 10Acts 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.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Civil Disobedience? (5 Verses)
“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: What Does the Bible Say About Civil Disobedience? (13 Verses)
“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.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Civil Disobedience
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about civil disobedience. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about civil disobedience and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about civil disobedience is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on civil disobedience needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about civil disobedience with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about civil disobedience, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Civil Disobedience?
You have studied 18 verses about civil disobedience. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.