Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Peter 3:17

"For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing." — 1 Peter 3:17 (ASV)

For it is better, if the will of God be so. That is, if God sees it to be necessary for your good that you should suffer, it is better that you should suffer for doing well than for crime. God often sees it to be necessary that his people should suffer.

There are effects to be accomplished by affliction which can be secured in no other way; and some of the happiest results on the soul of a Christian, some of the brightest traits of character, are the effect of trials. But we should take care that our sufferings are not brought upon us for our own crimes or follies.

No one can promote his own highest good by doing wrong, and then enduring the penalty which his sin incurs; and no one should do wrong with any expectation that it may be overruled for his own good. If we are to suffer, let it be by the direct hand of God, and not by any fault of our own.

If we suffer then, we will have the testimony of our own conscience in our favour, and the feeling that we may go to God for support. If we suffer for our faults, in addition to the outward bodily pain, we will endure the severest pangs which a person can suffer—those which the guilty mind inflicts on itself.