Beloved, don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.
as though some strange thing happened unto you: "Happened" (sumbaino) means "to go or come together" (Vine, Vol. II 194), suggesting happening by chance. The Lord’s people must know that the tests by fire were neither alien to the Christian walk nor did they come by happenstance. They were being tried.