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.
Those who had been cast into the crucible of suffering must also know that suffering is not "strange" (xenos) or foreign or alien to Christianity. "Strange" means "to be surprised, astonished at the novelty or strangeness of a thing; to think strange, be shocked" (Thayer 432-1-3579). Peter knew that in all ages there would be Christians who could not reconcile suffering and salvation. Peter is literally saying, "stop thinking it is a thing alien to you" to suffer for Christ (Wuest, I Peter 118). (See also 2 Timothy 3:12.)