1 Peter 3:16 (KJV)

Passage

Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "having", "good", "conscience", "whereas", "speak", "evil", "evildoers", and "ashamed". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "having" and "good", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "But sanctify the Lord God in your..." into verse 17's "For it is better if the will...", so "having" and "good" belong inside that flow. In 1 Peter context, the local focus is hope in suffering, holy conduct, submission, and grace.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "having" and "good" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.