Why did the Jerusalem believers lay their money at the apostles' feet?
The Jerusalem believers laid their money at the apostles’ feet because the apostles were in charge and exercised control over the congregation. They had sold land, houses, and other possessions, converted them to cash, and brought the proceeds to Jerusalem’s leaders, recognizing the apostles’ authority and leadership over the early church.
Les teaches that the Jewish believers in the Jerusalem congregation had land, houses, and other assets, and they sold these, turned them into cash, and laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet. The reason was that the apostles were in charge; they were in control. Even Barnabas sold land on Cyprus and brought the resources back to Jerusalem and laid them at the apostles’ feet because the apostles were in control. Later, about 22 years after Pentecost, Paul writes by inspiration that these leaders still thought they were the “somewhat,” but their power base was slipping away.