Verse 12 That not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister, &c.; that is, when they desired to know, as is stated in 1 Peter 1:11, at what time the events which they predicted were to be fulfilled, it was revealed to them that the promised blessings were not to be bestowed upon them, but upon a future and distant generation. To minister things is to perform any service relating to them; as the prophets, by their predictions, did in respect to the great plan of salvation.--Desire to look into; take pleasure in looking into.