The early believers pooled everything into a common fund and had no one lacking at first, but the fund eventually ran dry and left many destitute.
They sold lands and houses and placed the proceeds with the apostles, and distribution was made as anyone had need. Because Israel rejected the kingdom, the promised kingdom never came, and the common supply was soon exhausted. Paul's Gentile congregations then gave offerings to relieve the poor saints in Jerusalem.
Acts 2:44-45 — This passage records the early believers' practice of having all things common and selling possessions to share with those in need.
Acts 4:34-35 — This passage shows that no one lacked, because property owners sold lands and houses and distribution was made to each as he had need.
Acts 11:28-29 — This passage records the famine and the Judean relief effort, showing what happened when need arose among the believers.
The Book of Acts says the early believers were together and had all things common. They sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, as every man had need. Acts 4 adds that there was no one among them who lacked, because those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles' feet, and distribution was made to every man according as he had need. Later, Acts 11 records a great famine that was predicted by Agabus and came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. The disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea, and they sent it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Les Feldick explains that the early Jewish believers in Jerusalem sold their lands and houses and put everything into a common kitty, so that, at first, no one lacked. He says they did this gladly because they expected the Old Testament Kingdom to come very soon—once the King returned, houses and lands would no longer matter. But Israel rejected the kingdom, the kingdom did not come, and the common fund eventually ran out. Because these believers had already given away their wealth, they had no way to start over and became destitute. Les shows that God then laid it on the hearts of Paul's Gentile converts to give offerings for the poor saints at Jerusalem, which is why Paul was always taking up collections on his missionary journeys.
Les says the Jerusalem believers were looking for the coming Kingdom of Israel. According to the Old Testament program, after a time of wrath and vexation the King would come, and in that Kingdom there would be no poverty and no need for personal property. With that in view, they gladly sold their houses and lands and brought the money to the apostles. They hoped that more preaching would bring more Jews into the Kingdom, but Israel did not respond and the Kingdom did not come.
The common kitty started out large and supported everyone, but it had no continuing source of income. Les points out that without new believers adding to it, the money had to run out. That is exactly what happened—the kitty ran dry, and the believers who had sold everything were left destitute. He compares this to modern entitlement programs that also break down when money is handed out without a continuing supply.
Scripture records that a prophet named Agabus foretold a great famine throughout the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. The disciples then sent relief to the brethren in Judea, each one according to his ability, and the gift was delivered to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. Les says God in His sovereignty laid it on the hearts of Paul's Gentile converts to give offerings for the poor saints at Jerusalem, and this became Paul's ongoing ministry of collecting for them.
Les says this was not the church as we understand it. It was a called-out group of Jewish believers in Jerusalem who had been filled with the Spirit and were of one mind, living out of one common kitty. The arrangement ran its course and ended because the Kingdom was rejected, and it is not presented by Les as a permanent pattern for the church.
Why the First Christians Were NOT in Jerusalem (Acts 11)
And no wonder the church has become powerless, see. And we have to constantly remind people. Like I said in the last program, I'm afraid too many people are reading too many books instead of the Book, because how many books I've even read myself where they neglect this part of the Gospel. They talk about how to cope with problems.
The Common Kitty Cannot Last
Les explains that the Jerusalem believers sold houses and lands and lived off a common kitty, but because nothing was coming in, the money eventually ran out.
The Kingdom Did Not Come; the Fund Ran Dry
Les shows that everyone had all they needed at first, but when Israel rejected the kingdom the common fund ran dry and the believers became destitute.
All Things Common Among Jewish Believers
Les describes how the believers sold possessions and parted to all, not just to men, and everyone lived out of that common fund in the temple era.
Why They Gave So Gladly
Les says they were not worried about keeping property because they expected the King and the Kingdom quickly; when the kingdom did not come, they were left destitute.
A Called-Out Jewish Group, Not the Church
Les identifies this as a called-out group of Jewish believers drawing from one common kitty, which had to be replenished or run out—and it ran out.
The Kingdom Expectation Behind the Giving
Les explains that the believers gave their goods gladly because they thought the Kingdom was just over the horizon and personal wealth would no longer matter.
Gentile Offerings for the Poor Saints
Les teaches that after the kitty ran dry, the believers could not start over, so God used the offerings of Paul's Gentile converts to care for them for the rest of their lives.
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 record of the believers sharing all things in common after Pentecost.
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 outcome of the selling: no one lacked, and distribution was made by the apostles.
Acts 11:28: And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
This records the famine that created need for the Judean believers.
Acts 11:29: Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
This shows the Gentile disciples' response of sending relief to the Judean believers.
Acts 11:30: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
This records how the relief was delivered to the elders in Jerusalem.
Galatians 2:10: Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Paul was asked to remember the poor, which connects to his later collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem.
No. Les Feldick explains that after Israel rejected the kingdom, the common kitty ran out of money. The believers had sold their property and had no way to start over, so they became destitute.
Les says the arrangement in Acts was not the church as we understand it, but a called-out group of Jewish believers living out of one common kitty. It was tied to their expectation of the coming Kingdom, not to a permanent pattern for the church.
The Judean believers had sold everything and their common fund ran dry, so they became poor. God used Paul's Gentile converts to send relief to them, and Scripture records the disciples sending aid by Barnabas and Saul during the famine.
Watch the Teaching: Why the First Christians Were NOT in Jerusalem (Acts 11)