Peter:

Suddenly Petronilla enters the room, announcing breakfast. A hush falls over the room. Peter observes his daughter, her features, her mannerisms, her movements. She smiles slightly. She stands upright. She keeps eye-contact. Her appearance seems little different than yesterday, but Peter knows she will never be the same. Now she is an overcomer, a victor, a champion of faith. She now holds a steely resolve to trust God whatever the circumstances. She has suffered for righteousness sake. She is exceedingly glad. The men quietly move to the short-legged table and recline. No one says a word, except Peter who calmly, almost silently, extends morning pleasantries to Petronilla, calling her “Pet” (his nickname for her). Grief and empathy consume Mark and Silvanus. Petronilla, poised and graceful, limps from the room. The men each select from the plates beautifully spread before them: boiled eggs, flatbread, pickled meat, cheese, fresh fruit, and, of course, the ubiquitous garum. They finish quickly and withdraw to the atrium, leaving cleanup to the ladies.

Peter: Alright, where were we? Silvanus?

Silvanus: (Consulting the notes from his wax tablets) Let me see. My notes read: “We who truly appreciate God’s grace will suffer in righteousness through persecution, so that God will get the glory” [3:13-4:19].

Peter: Ah, yes. Next, let us consider how believers make their message more compelling when willing to suffer joyfully for doing good [3:13-17]. Those who observe joyful suffering feel compelled to consider whether such joy validates the message, do they not? Those who suffer with joy confidently believe their own message. Joyful suffering clearly inspires the believing base of Christians to suffer also. This impact certainly counteracts the constant work of demons to undermine the convincing work of the Holy Spirit throughout the world [John 16:8].

Silvanus: Pardon me, please, but I can personally attest that rejoicing through persecution has a compelling effect on those who consider the eternal realities of the kingdom of heaven [Acts 16:19-34]. After a brutal beating, we rejoiced. The Philippian jailer later received Christ and he rejoiced, and then his whole family received Jesus, and they rejoiced.

Mark: Suffering for righteousness rather than for wrongdoing is not only safer, it provides us an audience, gives us a message, and makes our message more compelling. So, we are talking about suffering for righteousness sake, and we are talking about suffering righteously, that is with a good attitude.

Peter: Correct. Many people do not share Christ, because they either have no audience or they have no message.