The term “purified” appears elsewhere in Scripture to describe the notion of being cleansed so as to be able to participate in a ceremonial religious activity (Exodus 19:10; Joshua 3:5; 1 Chronicles 15:12; 2 Chronicles 30:17; John 11:55; Acts 21:24, Acts 21:26; Acts 24:18). The phrase “your souls” amounts to “yourselves.” The Greek form of the verb “purify” indicates that Peter’s readers have completed their purification so that they now are pure, and therefore in a position to participate in the religious activity Peter has in mind.
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,