1 Peter 2:11-17 - A Call To Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as pilgrims and strangers upon earth, to refrain from indulging the cravings of your earthly nature, for they make war upon the soul. ¹² Let your daily life among the Gentiles be so upright, that, whenever they malign you as evil-doers, they may learn, as they watch, from the uprightness of your conduct, to praise God 'at the time when he shall visit them.'

¹³ Submit to all human institutions for the Lord's sake, alike to the emperor as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ and to governors as the men sent by him to punish evil-doers and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For God's will is this--that you should silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. ¹⁶ Act as free men, yet not using your freedom as those do who make it a cloak for wickedness, but as Servants of God. ¹⁷ Show honour to every one, Love the Brotherhood, 'revere God, honour the emperor.'