Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Peter has in mind Christ's warning to watch against Satan, from forgetting which he fell (Luke 22:31).
Be sober. "Care" will intoxicate the soul; therefore be sober - i:e., self-restrained. Yet, lest this freedom from care should lead to false security,
Be vigilant - against "your adversary." Let this be your "care." God provides, therefore be not anxious. The devil seeks, therefore watch (Bengel).
Because. So C, Vulgate; omitted in 'Aleph (') A B, Vulgate. The broken sentences are fervid and forcible.
Adversary, х antidikos (G476)] - opponent in a court of justice (Zechariah 3:1). "Satan" mean opponent. "Devil," accuser (Revelation 12:10). "The enemy" (Matthew 13:30). "A murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44). He counteracts the Gospel. "The tempter."
Roaring lion - implying his insatiable hunger for prey. Through man's sin he got God's justice on his side against us; but Christ, our Advocate, by fulfilling all the demands of justice for us, has made our redemption altogether consistent with justice.
Walketh about - (Job 1:7; Job 2:2.) So his children cannot rest (Isaiah 57:20). Evil spirits are (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6) already "in chains of darkness" - i:e., this is their doom finally: a doom already begun in part; though for a time they are permitted to roam in the world (of which Satan is prince), especially in the dark air that surrounds the earth (Ephesians 2:2). Hence, perhaps, arises miasma of the air, as physical and moral evil are closely connected.
Devour - with worldly "care" (1 Peter 5:7), so as finally to destroy. Compare Revelation 12:15-16.