1 Peter 4:14-16

1 Peter 4:14-16 If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a meddler in other men's matters; but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.

Expanded Translation

If you are censured (railed at, reproached) for professing and living by the name of Christ, blessed are you, because the glorious Spirit of God is resting upon you. For none of you must suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer (criminal?) or as a busybody in the affairs of others: but if a person suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; rather, let him be glorifying God in (or by, or through) this name (Christian).

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If ye are reproached

The latter word (oneididzo) meaning to censure, attack vehemently in words, insult. It is rendered upbraid in James 1:5.

for the name of Christ

Several other translations are possible (see above), but the meaning is altered little. We must suffer because we profess and live by the name of our Saviour.

blessed are ye

i.e., God's favor and blessings are upon us. Our lot is a happy one, though this is sometimes difficult to perceive in our weakness of faith!
Peter specifies why we should consider it a privilege and favor to be so treated:

because the spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you

Not two different spirits, but two ways of describing the same one. (Note the Expanded Translation.) Another translation might be: because the Spirit of glory even the Spirit of God resteth upon you. This blessing upon us when being reviled or otherwise mistreated far outweighs the suffering endured by the assaults of the world. We will not be left or forsaken. God's glorious Spirit will be with us.

There is a very close parallel with this passage in Matthew 5:10-12. Please look it up. How many likenesses can you name?

for let none of you suffer as a murderer, thief, evil-doer, meddler in other men's matters

Suffering for these things is only receiving one's just deserts (Cp. 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 2:20). We ought to be ashamed of ourselves and humbly ask God for forgiveness if we suffer for doing any of these (including the last!).

The word evil-doer may be rendered criminal as in 1 Peter 2:12. The word frequently had reference to one who broke civil laws, the laws of the land. Souter thinks the reference here is to a sorcerer, magician, or poisoner.

meddler in other men's matters

All one word in the original, allotrioepiskopos. It is, in turn, from two words: allotrios, belonging to another, and episkopos, an overseer, inspector, watcher, guardian (sometimes rendered bishop). The reference, then, is to a person who takes upon himself the supervision or oversight of affairs pertaining to others and in no wise to himself. Don-'t be a bishop of another man's business! See 2 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Timothy 5:13.[14]

[14] Thayer (and others) believe other men here has reference to the Gentiles. Citing this very passage, he states: ... the writer seems to refer to those who, with holy but intemperate zeal, meddle with the affairs of the Gentileswhether public or private, civil or sacredin order to make them conform to the Christian standard. This interpretation seems likely to me for two reasons: (1) ALL the previous sins mentioned (murder, thievery, evil-doer) were crimes against society or the public at large; (2) The Gentile (or outsider) could easily be referred to by allotrios (other men'S). In Matthew 17:25-26 it is very properly translated strangers. And in Hebrews 11:34 our translators have rendered it aliens.

but if any man suffer as a Christian

As a follower of Christ. This name appears only three times in the New Testament: Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28, and here.

Isaiah prophesied that God's people would be called by another name and a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name. (Isaiah 65:15; Isaiah 62:1-2.) The name Christian is the only one that is new, for in the Old Testament we have Godly people called saints (Psalms 16:3), brethren (Psalms 133:1), and disciples (Isaiah 8:16). I therefore believe this name was given to us by God, and not by the heathens or Gentiles.[15]

[15] See the various commentators (particularly McGarvey) on Acts 11:26 and the term were called (chrematidzo).

The phrase suffer as a Christian is here equivalent to when ye do well (1 Peter 2:20), zealous for that which is good (1 Peter 3:13), and for righteousness-' sake (1 Peter 3:14).

let him not be ashamed

Note Barnes-' Comment here:

He is to regard his religion in every way honorable, and all that fairly results from it in time and eternity as in every respect desirable. He is not to be ashamed to be called a Christian; he is not to be ashamed of the doctrines taught by his religion; he is not to be ashamed of the Saviour whom he professes to love; he is not to be ashamed of the society and fellowship of those who are true Christians, poor and despised though they may be; he is not to be ashamed to perform any of the duties demanded by his religion; he is not to be ashamed to have his name cast out, and himself subjected to reproach and scorn. A man should be ashamed only of that which is wrong, He should glory in that which is right, whatever may be the consequence to himself. His views may be regarded as bigoted, narrow, severe, Opprobrious epithets, on account of his opinions, may be applied to him. His former friends and companions may leave him because he has become a Christian. A wicked father, or a gay and worldly mother, may oppose a child, or a husband may revile a wife, on account of their religion. In all these cases, the same spirit essentially is required which was enjoined on the early Christian martyrs. We are never to be ashamed of our religion, whatever results may follow from our attachment to it.