Paul speaks to a delegation looking to charge him with a crime: Sanctification within the fire.

Acts 26:1-3

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“Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.” Acts 26:1-3

This is Paul’s time to speak in defense of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, as we learned in the post on Acts 25:26-27, Festus was looking for a reason to charge Paul with a crime and planned to use Paul’s own words against him, as quoted, “I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.” Acts 25:26-27

Paul would be speaking in front of Agrippa, an expert in Jewish affairs [but not on being born-again through Jesus Christ], military commanders [like the State Department or Department of Homeland Security], prominent people of the community, and Bernice [the sister-in law of Festus]. They were seeking a crime relating to Paul being a security risk to the Roman Empire, which would carry the death penalty.

The sanctification of Paul’s spirit is obvious in how he responded to the group that only wanted to hear him speak to find a reason to put him to death. Instead of expressing bitterness, vengeance, frustration, hatred, hopelessness, and despair, Paul displayed an attitude of respect, reverence, and a degree of joy. He even expressed a willingness to speak against the accusations that the Jewish leaders brought against him. Paul also expressed his reverence and honor for Agrippa as an expert in Jewish affairs. Sanctification is the process of allowing the Holy Spirit to cleanse our spirit and mind of ugly and hostile attitudes. This is like when milk is brought to a boil, then the scum surfaces to the top and is skimmed off to make the milk purer. Likewise, when we feel negative and ugly feelings surface from within us, that is scum that needs to be skimmed from our spirit. That cleanses our spirit of hostile intentions and makes us more patient and Christ-like.

Sanctification, or Holiness, is explained in the Bible as being like gold or silver being refined in the fire. Gold and silver is refined in the fire in the same way that milk is refined by boiling, “…that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” 1 Peter 1:7 Also, “He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver… And purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3

The entity that has power over physiology to give people what to think, feel, say, and do makes war against the sanctification process of our mind, feelings, spirit, and soul. We have to remember that the grace and mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, is what enables our sanctification to progress, even while enduring the fire. We have to be careful not to let bitterness, frustration, despair, lust etc. to creep into our interactions with others. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:14-16

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1