The word “authority” appears 105 times throughout the books of the Bible. The graph below shows the locations of each appearance. It begins with Genesis in the top left and concludes with Revelation in the bottom right.
Here are the 40 strongest Bible scriptures on authority.
Romans 13:1
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Acts 5:29
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Luke 10:19
“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”
1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
1 John 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:4
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 Peter 2:13
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme.
1 Peter 2:15
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
1 Thessalonians 4:8
Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
2 Corinthians 2:9
For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.
2 John 1:9
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2 Thessalonians 3:14
If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.
2 Timothy 2:2
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Ephesians 5:21
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
John 10:27
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:35
“If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken.”
John 14:26
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 16:13
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
John 19:11
Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Luke 20:25
He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Luke 9:1
“And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.”
Mark 1:27
And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
Matthew 10:1
“And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.”
Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Matthew 4:7
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Proverbs 11:14
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Titus 3:1
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.
More Bible Verses that Will Move You
50 Most Powerful Scriptures on Faith
60 Transcendent Verses on Trust
50 Strong Scriptures on Perseverance
68 Powerful Verses on Forgiveness
40 Uplifting Scriptures on Patience
Add Our Infographic Below to Your Pinterest Board
Hit the pin button below to add our infographic, with all the verses, to one of your Pinterest boards.
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.