What does 1 Peter 1:11 mean?
In verse 10, Peter reveals to us that the Old Testament prophets who wrote about the coming salvation by God's grace didn't fully understand it. They searched and asked questions about it.He continues the sentence in verse 11: The prophets wanted to know the "who" and "when" Christ's Spirit was referring to as they were directed to write the words of their prophecies. Who was the person who would bring this salvation, the Christ who would suffer and then be glorified? And when would it happen? Isaiah chapters 11 and 53 are examples of these prophecies.
In verse 12, Peter gives us the answer they received, but verse 11 is important. It is a clear statement that the Old Testament prophets were not writing their own ideas. Christ's Spirit—the Holy Spirit—was in them, directing as they wrote the very words of God. It's a truth that Peter will state even more clearly in 1 Peter 1:20–21.
Peter reinforces another crucial idea in this verse: In the ancient prophesies, God promised a Savior who would suffer and then be glorified. Jesus' life and death and resurrection fulfilled those prophesies. That same God has now promised that, even though Christians may now suffer, we will also be glorified. God has proven Himself trustworthy to keep such a promise.