Nor would it surprise Jewish readers, whose Scriptures contained many oracles of divine judgement on wicked rulers. Saying that the authorities are appointed and authorised by God does not mean that God endorses whatever they then do. (That fallacy occurs in modern democracies, when winning an election is said to give the victors a mandate and reason to act with carte blanche.) The biblical view is that God holds his appointed authorities to account for their actions.
