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The Bible

Support for civil disobedience in cases of tyranny
 

Acts 4:18 (KJV) 18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 

Acts 4:19 (KJV) 19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 

Acts 5:27 - 28 (KJV) 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,  28Saying, 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. 

Acts 5:40 (KJV)  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. 

Acts 5:29 (KJV) 29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

Acts 5:41 - 42 (KJV) 41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Please read all of Acts to obtain a better understanding of why and when the apostles disobeyed certain laws.

 

Commands against blatant disobedience to authority - the teachings of Our Lord Jesus, Paul and Peter

Jesus' Teaching
John 19:8 - 13 (KJV) 8When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;  9And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.  10Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?  11Jesus 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.  12And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.  13When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 

Paul's Teaching
Romans 13:1 - 14 (KJV) 1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  3For 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:  4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.  8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.  9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Peter's Teaching
1 Peter 2:13 - 25 (KJV)
13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;  14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.  15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.  18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.  19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.