¹⁴ that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a ^(A)Hebrew to ^[a]mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.

¹⁴ If you are ^[a]reproached for the name of Christ, ^(A)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ^[b]On their part He is blasphemed, ^(B)but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a ^[c]busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this ^[d]matter.

¹⁷ For the time has come ^(C)for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, ^(D)what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ Now

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God ^(F)commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

^14 (A)But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ^(B)“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵ But ^[a]sanctify ^[b]the Lord God in your hearts, and always ^(C)be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the ^(D)hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ^16 (E)having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring ^[c]us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

²⁰ For ^(A)what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

² And they began to ^(A)accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow ^(B)perverting ^[a]the nation, and ^(C)forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying ^(D)that He Himself is Christ, a King.”

⁵⁹ Now the chief priests, ^[a]the elders, and all the council sought ^(A)false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,

^11 (A)Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of ^(B)evil against you falsely for My sake.