A.C.T.S. Grid

A.C.T.S. reflection

1 Peter 2

1So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 13Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Adoration

Father, we praise You because You judge justly, and we entrust ourselves to Your righteous judgment when others treat us unfairly.

Peter describes God as the One “who judges justly.” Christ’s response to unjust suffering shows that the Father is worthy of complete trust. His judgment is righteous even when human treatment is unjust.

Confession

Lord, we confess that we answer insults with insults, seeking to repay those who hurt us instead of entrusting ourselves to Your judgment.

The chapter calls believers to honorable conduct even when others speak against them or cause them to suffer unjustly. Its closing portrait of Christ exposes our pattern of retaliating against those who hurt us: “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return”. Answering insults with insults contradicts His example and takes repayment into our own hands rather than trusting God’s judgment.

Thanksgiving

Jesus, thank You for never returning insult for insult and for bearing the penalty for our retaliation in Your body on the cross.

Jesus perfectly refused the retaliation we so often practice: “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return”. He did more than leave an example, for Peter says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree”. Our retaliation belongs among those sins whose penalty He bore. His saving purpose is that we “might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

Supplication

Holy Spirit, change our hearts so that we continue doing good when we are mistreated, following Jesus with confidence in the Father’s just judgment.

The godly life includes continuing to do good under unjust treatment rather than retaliating. Peter describes this as suffering while “mindful of God” and calls believers to “follow in his steps.” The Spirit grows this life in us by strengthening our trust in the Father’s judgment and shaping our responses after Jesus.

Prayer prompt

Pray these four lines slowly, adding your own names, situations, or sins to each as you bring them before God.

Make this reflection your own

Reflect on 1 Peter 2

Reflections on this page are generated with AI to guide your own prayer — always read the passage yourself first. Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.