What does 1 Peter 2:15 mean?

In the previous verses, Peter commanded Christians to submit to every human authority. This does not necessarily mean obeying everything we are told to do by human government (Acts 5:28–29). Paul delivers these instructions knowing full well that Christians may often be falsely accused of wrongdoing. In teaching submission to human authority, Peter echoes Jesus' own teaching as well as those of Paul in Romans 13:1–7.

Why would God ask Christians to submit to human authorities, even those who wrongfully accuse us or treat us unfairly? This verse is part of the answer. First, Peter spells it out: This is God's will. Peter isn't stating a personal philosophy or a practical strategy for living as persecuted people. He is unequivocally telling Christians exactly what God wants them to do. Why does God want us to pursue goodness in this way? To silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Notice that Peter doesn't say that the end result of our submission to authority will be fair treatment or even freedom from harm. Instead, God plans to use our good choices to shut prejudiced people up.

What does that mean? Those who know believers well enough to see our faith lived out, on a day-to-day basis, recognize that we do good because we are Christians. They will stop believing that Christians are a destructive force in society, or that Christians do evil, or that Christians are dangerous. They will stop being ignorant about what Christians are really like, because they will know better, by direct experience.

Of course, that result depends on Christians leading good lives out in the open, including being submissive to human authorities.