Obey Your Government

13 Every person must be subject to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by God’s permission.^[a] The existing authorities have been established by God, ² so that whoever resists the authorities opposes what God has established, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For the authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities? Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval. ⁴ For they are God’s servants, working for your good.

But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God’s servants to administer punishment^[b] to anyone who does wrong. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities,^[c] not only for the sake of God’s^[d] punishment,^[e] but also for the sake of your own conscience. ⁶ This is also why you pay taxes. For rulers^[f] are God’s servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work.^{[g] 7} Pay everyone whatever you owe them—taxes to whom taxes are due, tolls to whom tolls are due, fear^[h] to whom fear^[i] is due, honor to whom honor is due.