1 Peter 2:13-25 - Submission To Established Authority
13 Submit to all human authority, for the Master's sake; to the emperor, as supreme, 14 and to governors, as sent by him to punish evil-doers, and to encourage those who do right. 15 For it is the will of God that by doing right you should silence the ignorant charges of foolish people. 16 Live like free men, only do not make your freedom an excuse for doing wrong, but be slaves of God. 17 Treat everyone with respect. Love the brotherhood, be reverent to God, respect the emperor.
18 You servants must be submissive to your masters and perfectly respectful to them; not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are unreasonable. 19 For God approves a man if from a sense of duty he endures suffering unjustly inflicted??20 for what credit is there in your enduring being beaten for doing wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing what is right, you have God's approval.
21 That is the life to which you have been called, for Christ himself suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow his footsteps. 22 He committed no sin, and deceit was never on his lips. 23 He was abused but he did not retort. He suffered but he did not threaten, but committed his case to him who judges justly. 24 He carried the burden of our sins in his own body on the cross, in order that we might die to sin and live for uprightness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.