1 Pedro 2:14

14 Ya á los gobernadores, como de él enviados para venganza de los malhechores, y para loor de los que hacen bien.

1 Pedro 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 Pedro 2:14 In-Context

12 Teniendo vuestra conversación honesta entre los Gentiles; para que, en lo que ellos murmuran de vosotros como de malhechores, glorifiquen á Dios en el día de la visitación, estimándoos por las buenas obras.
13 Sed pues sujetos á toda ordenación humana por respeto á Dios: ya sea al rey, como á superior,
14 Ya á los gobernadores, como de él enviados para venganza de los malhechores, y para loor de los que hacen bien.
15 Porque esta es la voluntad de Dios; que haciendo bien, hagáis callara la ignorancia de los hombres vanos:
16 Como libres, y no como teniendo la libertad por cobertura de malicia, sino como siervos de Dios.
The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.