1 Peter 2:14

14 whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;

1 Peter 2:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Peter 2:14

Or unto governors
Inferior magistrates, such as were under the Roman emperor; as proconsuls, procurators such as Pontius Pilate, Felix, and Festus, who had under the emperor the government of particular nations, provinces, and cities:

as unto them that are sent by him;
either by the king, the Roman emperor, by whom they were sent, from whom they received their commission, and derived their authority, under whom they acted, and to whom they were accountable; or by God, by whom they are ordained, and whose ministers they are, and for the ends hereafter mentioned; so that this contains an argument or reason why they should be submitted to:

for the punishment of evildoers;
the breakers of the laws of God and men, on whom punishment is to be inflicted, by the civil magistrates, for the breach of them, by lines, scourgings, imprisonment, and death itself, according as the crimes are:

and for the praise of them that do well;
who behave according to the laws of God and nations, and are obedient to magistrates, and subject to every ordinance; these have praise of men, of magistrates, and are rewarded by them; by protecting their persons, defending their properties, and preserving them in the peaceable enjoyment of their estates and possessions; see ( Romans 13:3 ) .

1 Peter 2:14 In-Context

12 having your behaviour among the nations right, that in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, of the good works having beheld, they may glorify God in a day of inspection.

13 Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest,

14 whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;

15 because, so is the will of God, doing good, to put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men;

16 as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;