His addresses could have been Jews or perhaps foreigners whom Claudius had displaced. A third possibility is that Peter’s readers were indigenous inhabitants whose ancestors had lived there for generations. In fact, indications scattered throughout the letter point to Peter’s readers as being of pagan background (as opposed to being rooted in the old covenant; see 1 Peter 1:18; 1 Peter 2:9–10; 1 Peter 4:3–4).