UNDESERVED SUFFERING

13 Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness,n you are blessed. Do not fear themC,o or be intimidated,D,p 15 but in your hearts regardE ChristF the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.q 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience,r so that when you are accused,G those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffers for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also sufferedt for sins once for all,u the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.v He was put to death in the fleshH,w but made alive by the Spirit,I 19 in whichJ he also went and made proclamation to the spiritsx in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noahy while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight peopleK,z—were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body,aa but the pledgeL of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,ab 22 who has gone into heavenac and is at the right hand of Godad with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.ae