1 Peter 2:12 (ASV)

Passage

having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Nearby Context

1 Peter 2:10 who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;

1 Peter 2:12 having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:13 Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord`s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

1 Peter 2:14 or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "good works", "having", "behavior", "seemly", "gentiles", "wherein", "speak", and "against". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "good works" and "having", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "Beloved I beseech you as sojourners and..." into verse 13's "Be subject to every ordinance of man...", so "good works" and "having" 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 "good works" and "having" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.