What does 1 Peter 2:12 mean?

In the previous verse, Peter urged his readers, all Christians, to abstain from the sin they want to do. One reason for that is found in this verse: the world is watching. Although Peter has described Christians as aliens and strangers in the world, he says that we still live among the people of the world. We are not isolated. We see them, and they see how we live.

He also notes that those in the world will accuse Christians of doing wrong things. Jesus had told Peter and the other disciples that the world would hate them because, in part, they would not belong to the world (John 15:18–25). We should not be surprised, then, when we are falsely accused by unbelievers.

However, we do have a powerful defense: we can focus on leading good lives, making good choices. Peter insists that our choice to do good deeds in the world now truly matters. One reason is that those in the world around us will notice our good works. This will trigger them to give glory to God on the day He visits us. Even as those in the world resent Christians for our refusal to participate in the sinful practices they enjoy (1 Peter 4:3–4), our good works will attract them to our Father.