The communal fund ran dry, the Jerusalem believers became poor, and God provided through Paul's collections from the Gentiles.
The early Jewish believers sold their lands, houses, and other goods and put everything into one common fund because they expected the promised kingdom to arrive at any moment. When Israel did not respond and the kingdom did not come, the fund was not replenished and finally ran out. Les Feldick teaches that this left the Jerusalem believers poor and destitute, and God supplied their needs through the offerings Paul gathered among the Gentile churches.
Acts 2:44-45 — Records that the believers had all things common and sold their possessions and goods for distribution, the starting point of the communal fund.
Acts 4:34-35 — Shows there was no lack at first and that proceeds from sold lands and houses were laid at the apostles' feet for distribution.
Romans 15:26 — Shows the eventual provision for the poor Jerusalem saints through a contribution from Macedonia and Achaia.
Galatians 2:10 — Paul states that the only additional requirement was to remember the poor, which he was eager to do.
Acts 2 records that all who believed were together and had all things common; they sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men, as every man had need. Acts 4 adds that neither was there any among them that lacked, because as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet, and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. Later, Paul writes to the Romans that it pleased Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. In Galatians, Paul reports that the only requirement added by the Jerusalem apostles was that he remember the poor, which he was forward to do.
Les Feldick explains that the early Jewish believers gladly sold their lands, houses, and investments and put everything into one common kitty because they believed the promised kingdom was just over the horizon. The Old Testament promised that the kingdom would be a utopia with no poverty, no need for food, and no corruption, so they saw no reason to hold on to personal wealth. But Israel as a nation did not respond, the kingdom did not come in, and the shared fund eventually ran dry. Because they had given away all their material wealth, they could not easily start over, so they became poor and even destitute. Les stresses that God in His sovereignty took care of them by moving Paul's Gentile converts to take up collections for the poor saints at Jerusalem during his missionary journeys.
Les Feldick teaches that the early believers had the expectation that the kingdom was just over the horizon. They saw the nation of Israel responding, and if the whole nation would respond, Christ would return and they would have the kingdom. Since the Old Testament promised the kingdom would be a utopia with no poor, no need for food, and no corruption, they thought no one would need houses, lands, or investments. So they sold them gladly, not realizing the kingdom would not come in at that time.
According to Les Feldick, the common kitty ran dry because Israel did not respond and the kingdom did not come. Once the believers had relieved themselves of all their material wealth, it was very hard to start over. As a result, they became poor and even destitute. Les uses this to explain why there were so many poor believers in Jerusalem in the early church.
Les Feldick explains that God was gracious enough to recognize that the Jerusalem believers had acted with good intentions, so He took care of them for the rest of their physical lives through offerings from Paul's converts among the Gentiles. During Paul's missionary journeys he was always taking up offerings for the poor saints in Jerusalem. The Bible records that Macedonia and Achaia made a certain contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem, and Paul himself said the only added requirement was that he remember the poor, which he was eager to do.
Expectation of the Coming Kingdom
Les explains the early believers sold property because they expected the kingdom and its utopia to be just over the horizon; they saw no need to keep houses, lands, or investments.
The Fund Runs Dry
Les teaches that the common kitty ran dry because Israel did not respond and the kingdom did not come, leaving the believers poor; God then supplied their needs through Paul's Gentile offerings.
Poverty After the Shared Fund
Les explains the same outcome: the kitty ran out, the believers became destitute, and God watched over them by moving Gentile believers to give offerings.
The Common Kitty Cannot Last
Les uses the example of a common pool at Jerusalem to show that a shared fund without ongoing provision inevitably runs out.
Destitute After Selling Everything
Les teaches that the Jerusalem believers sold all their property and cashed everything in, and when the kitty ran dry it left them destitute, which is why Paul collected for the poor at Jerusalem.
A Fund Without Replenishment
Les explains that once everyone started living from a common kitty, it had to run out unless it was being continually refilled.
The Reason Behind the Common Fund
Les reminds that the Jewish believers put all their goods into a common fund because they thought the kingdom was near and no one would need personal wealth then.
Gentile Offerings for Jerusalem
Les points out that even dirt-poor Gentile converts brought offerings together for the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, showing how God provided for the poor saints.
Acts 2:44-45: And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
This is the initial description of the believers sharing everything and selling property to distribute to those in need.
Acts 4:34-35: Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
This shows the practice of selling lands and houses and giving the proceeds to the apostles for distribution.
Romans 15:26: For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
This records the Gentile churches making a contribution for the poor believers in Jerusalem.
Galatians 2:10: Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Paul says the Jerusalem apostles asked him to remember the poor, which connects to the collections for the Jerusalem saints.
Because they had sold their property and put everything into one common fund. That fund eventually ran dry when Israel did not accept the kingdom, leaving the believers poor and destitute.
Yes. Les Feldick repeatedly points out that the kitty ran out after Israel rejected the kingdom, and the believers could not easily start over since they had given away all their material wealth.
They were offerings for the poor saints at Jerusalem, gathered from Paul's Gentile congregations like Macedonia and Achaia.
Watch the Teaching: Why Acts 2 Is NOT the Birth of the Church — Explained