1 Peter 1:12

To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

Very significantly, in this verse:

Peter claims for those who evangelized Asia Minor (Paul and his companions) the same authority which was possessed by the ancient prophets. The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets; the same Spirit worked and preached through the apostles[36]

This verse says some wonderful things about preaching, summarized by Barclay: "That it is the announcement of salvation, that it is of the Holy Spirit, and that angels themselves are intensely interested in it."[37]

Peter's mention of the Holy Spirit's being sent forth from heaven implies that the word of the apostles is even superior to that of the prophets, being the result of a more glorious endowment by the blessed Spirit. "The primary reference (in this) is to the descent of the Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2.)"[38]

Which things angels desire to look into ... In emphasizing the greatness of the salvation that has come to Christians, Peter in this affirms that even the angels of heaven are deeply concerned and interested in this salvation; and why not? For their own number who had sinned, there was no day of grace, no offer of pardon, no opportunity to seek a remedy. The same verse of the word of God which relates their sin also relates their being cast out of heaven! No wonder they were interested in this new thing wherein God would forgive sinful and rebellious people! No greater wonder ever appeared, either in heaven or upon earth! There is no need to suppose that Peter relied upon the book of Enoch for this information, as alleged by Hart,[39] for everything that he affirmed here is represented typically in the carved figures of the holy angels adorning the mercy seat (Exodus 25:20ff), and who were represented in just such an attitude of inquisitive wonder as that which Peter mentioned here. (See short dissertation on The Mercy Seat in this series of commentaries, my Commentary on Hebrews, pp. 190-191.)

To look into ... These words are significant because of the root meaning. Dummelow said, "The Greek word means to look as out of a window";[40] but a variant meaning is evidently the one here: "To look comes from a word which indicates a stooping over in order to see more clearly."[41] Macknight also agreed to the certainty of this meaning here:

The Greek means literally to stoop; but stooping, being the attitude of one who desires to look narrowly into a thing; it is properly translated look attentively.[42]

It will be noted that this meaning focuses upon the stooping posture of the angels above the mercy seat.

[36] B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 8.

[37] William Barclay, op. cit., p. 180.

[38] Archibald M. Hunter, op. cit., p. 99.

[39] J. H. A. Hart, op. cit., p. 47.

[40] J. R. Dummelow, op. cit., p. 1042.

[41] Raymond C. Kelcy, op. cit., p. 29.

[42] James Macknight, op. cit., p. 441.