The Holy Apostle Carpus, One of the Seventy Disciples
Read
Acts 21:26-32; John 16:2-13
When I was a university student, I participated in monthly pro-life witnessing at a major intersection on campus. There was a small but dedicated group of us who would silently witness, engaging in conversation with those who were interested in our witnessing and wanted more information. When anti-life students would come to protest our witnessing, they had two goals: a) gather as many students from nearby buildings as possible for their group, and b) be as loud and vulgar as possible. They believed that their strength against the truth was found in numbers and volume.
We see something similar happen to St. Paul. A minority, the Jews from Asia, work to stir up the entire crowd against St. Paul. One could surmise that they too believed in strength in numbers and volume. At first, it appears that they have won against St. Paul, but God, who works in mysterious ways, spares the life of St. Paul with his being arrested.
It is very easy, instead of following the truth, to follow and join the biggest and loudest crowd. However, may we be reminded of St. Paul’s words from the Letter to the Ephesians when he instructs us to, “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (6:14 ESV).