1 Peter 2:14 (ASV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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.

1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

1 Peter 2:16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "governors", "sent", "vengeance", "evil-doers", "praise", and "well". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "governors" and "sent", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "Be subject to every ordinance of man..." into verse 15's "For so is the will of God...", so "governors" and "sent" 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 "governors" and "sent" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.