←1 Peter 3→BSB

• accept the authority of (literally submit to): Wives are instructed to acknowledge that God has appointed the husband as head of the relationship (see 2:13; Eph 5:22–25). Submission in the ancient world took the form of obedience (see 1 Pet 3:6). God also intends the husband to be a loving and respectful head (3:7; see Eph 5:25–30). However, Peter focuses especially on wives with pagan husbands who would potentially be hostile toward their wives’ faith.
• without any words: Peter urges Christian wives to evangelize their husbands through their submissive and appropriate behavior.

• and called him her master: See Gen 18:12. Peter views this address as indicative of Sarah’s overall attitude toward Abraham.
• without fear of what your husbands might do: Christian wives married to unbelievers frequently found themselves pressured, both subtly and overtly, to abandon Christian principles and values. Peter urges them to continue to do what is right.

• In the same way: Like slaves and wives (2:18–3:6), husbands also have a particular responsibility within the household.
• She may be weaker than you are: Peter was probably thinking of the woman’s physical strength and perhaps her social status. Since women are typically physically weaker than men and were often less able to assert themselves in that society, the husband had the duty of protecting and caring for his wife.
• your equal partner in God’s gift of new life: The husband’s headship is balanced and informed by the equal status that men and women have before God (see also Gal 3:26–29).
• The prayers of a husband are hindered if he does not give exceptional honor to his wife (cp. Jas 4:3).

and he grant you his blessing: By blessing others, we receive a blessing from God.

Generally speaking, no one will want to harm someone who is doing good, but sometimes Christians do suffer even when they do good (3:14; see 1:6; 4:12–19).

He suffered physical death (literally death in the flesh), but he was raised to life in the Spirit (or in spirit): Flesh and spirit are often contrasted (e.g., Rom 7:5–6; 8:2–11). Here, flesh stands for ordinary human life; the Spirit stands for the new realm inaugurated through Christ’s death and resurrection. Christ died in the old realm and came to life in the new realm.

Only eight people: That is, Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives (Gen 6:18; 8:18).

• a picture of baptism: Peter might mean that, as the water floated the boat in which Noah and his family were saved, so baptism saves believers. Or he might mean that, as Noah and his family passed through water to safety, so Christians pass through the waters of baptism to salvation. Finally, he might mean that, as the water judged sin in Noah’s day, so the water of baptism washes away the sins of Christians.
• Peter does not mean that water baptism saves a person regardless of that person’s heart. He adds that baptism saves only as a response to God from (or as an appeal to God for) a clean conscience, thus making clear that only people exercising faith toward God will benefit from baptism.

all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority: In the ancient world, spiritual beings were widely believed to directly affect the course of affairs on earth. Christians needed to be reminded that Christ has already won his victory over these spiritual powers. It means that we don’t need to fear even the spiritual realm (cp. 3:14).