1 Peter 3:15 (KJV)

Passage

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:

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

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.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "sanctify", "lord", "hearts", "ready", "always", "give", "answer", and "asketh". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "sanctify" and "lord", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "But and if ye suffer for righteousness..." into verse 16's "Having a good conscience that whereas they...", so "sanctify" and "lord" 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 "sanctify" and "lord" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.