1 Peter 3:14 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

But if you should suffer If any should be so wicked as to endeavour to harm you when you are doing good; if your heathen rulers, or any others, should persecute you for righteousness' sake; that is, upon the account of your religion, because you follow Christ, and believe and obey his gospel; this, properly speaking, will be no harm to you, but a good: yea, happy are you In so suffering, in spite of all the malicious and outrageous efforts of your enemies; yea, your sufferings will be so far from lessening, that they will increase your happiness, and that in many respects. Be not afraid of their terror Τον δε φοβον αυτων μη φοβηθητε, the very words of the Septuagint, Isaiah 8:12-13; Fear ye not their fear: the exhortation which Isaiah gave to the Jews when threatened with an invasion by the Assyrians. The words are a Hebraism; the meaning of which is, Be not affected with the fear which they endeavour to raise in you by their threatenings. Or, as some understand the expression, Let not that fear be in you which the wicked feel. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts Namely, by fearing him more than men, how many or powerful soever they may be; by believing all his promises; by trusting in his wisdom, power, and goodness; by acknowledging his justice in the punishments which he inflicts, and by patiently bearing all the trials he is pleased to appoint. By these dispositions, believers sanctify God in their hearts; they give him the glory of all his perfections. See on Isaiah 8:13. And be ready always By a familiar acquaintance with the contents and evidences of your holy religion, and by that cheerfulness and presence of mind which arises from a consciousness of your practical regard to it; to give an answer to every man that asketh you Either by virtue of his office, or for his own information; or when the defence of the truth requires it; a reason of the hope that is in you Of eternal life; with meekness For anger would hurt your cause, as well as your soul; and fear A filial fear of offending God, and a jealous fear of yourselves, lest you should speak amiss. Having a good conscience Keeping your consciences clear from guilt, that they may justify you when men accuse you; or conducting yourselves so that your consciences may not reproach you for dishonouring the gospel, by walking unsuitably to its holy precepts; that whereas, or wherein, they speak evil of you, as of evil-doers And lay to your charge crimes of the most detestable nature; they may be put to shame, who falsely Without any shadow of cause; accuse your good conversation Your inoffensive, useful, and holy behaviour; in Christ According to his doctrine and example.