Why did the early believers sell their possessions and lands in Acts?
They sold their possessions and lands because they believed the promised kingdom was imminent. If Israel responded and Christ returned, the Old Testament utopia would begin—no poor, no need, no corruption—so private real estate and goods seemed unnecessary. They acted gladly, expecting this to occur in the immediate future.
Les explains that these early Jewish believers were ready to get rid of their private holdings because the kingdom was just over the horizon. They could see Israel responding, and if the whole nation would respond, Christ would return and they would have the kingdom. Since the Old Testament promised that the kingdom would be the perfect utopia—no poor, no need for food, no corruption—they saw no reason to worry about goods and lands. So they sold them gladly, thinking this was in the immediate future. They had all things common, sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, including the widows, living out of the common kitty. Barnabas is an example: he was a landowner on Cyprus, sold his land, turned it into cash, and brought it back to the kitty in Jerusalem. They also continued daily in the Temple, because the Temple was still operating.