Jesus had warned his disciples not to practice their righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them (Matthew 6:1). That is, the disciples were not to accompany their righteous deeds with actions or words that drew attention to themselves. The reason he gave was that the Father sees one's works and your motives, and he rewards in his time and manner. In the present paragraph, Peter makes a similar emphasis. The Christian is to do good but need not trumpet his good deeds or go out of his way to explain why he does those deeds. However, when an unbeliever asks the Christian for an explanation as to why he does what he does, Peter insists that the Christian needs to be ready to explain. Such readiness to explain implies that the Christian deliberately thinks through in his own head why he does what he does. It involves knowing deeply what Christ has done for him and how reflecting such deeds of grace is the calling of the Christian.
In the midst of (unjust) suffering the Christian may—must!—lift his eyes beyond the suffering to the inheritance that is to come (1 Peter 1:4). This is a point the apostle to the Hebrews draws out in detail in Hebrews 11:26, Hebrews 12:2.
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,