The apostles were the authoritative leaders of the Jerusalem church: they taught doctrine, performed signs, controlled the common treasury, and deliberately remained in Jerusalem.
In Acts 2 and Acts 4, the twelve continued in the apostles' doctrine, and the believers sold their possessions and laid the money at the apostles' feet for distribution. Les Feldick shows this was a total communal system directed by Peter, James, John, and the others. He also stresses that the apostles did not flee persecution because they understood their God-given place was in Jerusalem, awaiting the King's return.
Acts 2:42-43 — This verse shows the apostles' doctrine and miracles were central to the early Jerusalem assembly.
Acts 4:34-35 — This verse shows the apostles receiving the proceeds of sold lands and distributing to every believer in need.
Acts 8:1 — This verse records that the apostles were the only Jewish believers who remained in Jerusalem after the persecution began.
According to Acts 2:42, the early believers in Jerusalem "continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." The next verse says that "many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." These same verses describe the practice of having all things common, selling possessions, and parting them to all men as every man had need (Acts 2:44-45). Acts 4:34-35 records that "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." Barnabas is specifically named as selling his land and laying the money at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:36-37). Acts 8:1 notes that when a great persecution arose against the church at Jerusalem, the believers "were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles." The apostles' governing role is also seen in Acts 6:6, when the congregation chose seven servants and "set them before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."
Les Feldick emphasizes that the apostles were the God-appointed leadership of the Jewish assembly in Jerusalem. Using Acts 2 and Acts 4, he shows that the twelve — Peter, James, John, and the others — parceled out the believers' goods from what he calls a "common kitty." He makes a point that the money from sold lands was laid "at the apostles' feet," not at the feet of pastors or deacons. Les also explains that while Israel was rejecting her Messiah, the apostles and Jerusalem elders were losing the clout God had entrusted to them. As Israel slipped, God turned to the Gentiles through Paul's ministry. Les points out that even under intense persecution, the apostles stayed in Jerusalem because they knew they had no God-given right to leave; they were waiting for the King to return to Jerusalem. He argues this is the reason they did not scatter with the other believers in Acts 8:1.
Les Feldick calls the early Jerusalem practice a "total communal system of living." In Acts 2:44-45 and Acts 4:34-35, the believers sold possessions and brought the proceeds to the apostles. Les emphasizes that the money was laid at the apostles' feet, not at the pastor's or deacons' feet, and that the twelve parceled it out to the Jewish believers according to their needs.
Acts 8:1 says every believing Jew was scattered abroad except the apostles. Les asks why, after seven years, the apostles were still in Jerusalem instead of fulfilling the Great Commission throughout the Roman Empire. He answers that they stayed because they knew the King of Israel would return to Jerusalem, and they had no God-given right to leave. Even under persecution by Saul of Tarsus, the twelve sat tight.
When the Jerusalem congregation chose Stephen, Philip, and others, they "set them before the apostles," who prayed and laid hands on them. Les points to this as evidence that the apostles were overseeing the Jerusalem assembly as it multiplied with Jewish believers responding to Peter and the eleven.
Apostles Losing Clout
Les shows that in early Acts the twelve had God-entrusted power over the Jerusalem assembly and its common kitty, but as Israel rejected her Messiah the apostles lost their rightful influence.
Apostles Administer the Common Kitty
Les explains Acts 2:42-44 as a total communal system where the twelve, including Peter, James, and John, parceled out believers' goods according to need.
Money Laid at the Apostles' Feet
Les highlights that proceeds from sold lands were laid at the apostles' feet, not at pastors' or deacons' feet, showing the apostles' direct control in Jerusalem.
Apostles Stay in Jerusalem
Les notes that the apostles, who had been with Christ, understood their commission and deliberately stayed in Jerusalem while other believers scattered.
Apostles Confirm the Seven
Les shows the Jerusalem assembly brought the seven chosen servants before the apostles, who prayed and laid hands on them, demonstrating apostolic authority.
Apostles Not Scattered
Les reasons that the apostles' refusal to leave Jerusalem under persecution proves they knew they had no God-given right to take the Gospel elsewhere.
Seven Years After Pentecost
Les emphasizes that all believing Jews fled Jerusalem except the apostles, who remained as leaders seven years after Pentecost.
Waiting for the King's Return
Les explains that the apostles stayed in Jerusalem because if the King returned to Jerusalem and they were absent, they would miss His return.
Acts 2:42: And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
This verse establishes the apostles as the doctrinal teachers of the Jerusalem church.
Acts 4:35: And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
This verse shows the apostles receiving and distributing the church's common treasury.
Acts 8:1: And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
This verse shows the apostles remaining in Jerusalem while all other believers were scattered.
Acts 6:6: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
This verse shows the apostles confirming the servants chosen by the Jerusalem congregation.
No. Acts 8:1 says all the believers were scattered except the apostles. Les Feldick notes that even seven years after Pentecost, the twelve remained in Jerusalem, refusing to leave even under intense persecution because they were waiting for the King to return.
He uses this phrase for the communal system in Acts 2 and Acts 4, where Jewish believers sold their possessions and put the money into a common treasury. The apostles, including Peter, James, and John, then parceled it out to every believer as they had need.
Les says this was not church language as we understand it. The money was laid at the apostles' feet, not at pastors' or deacons' feet, and he indicates this communal practice was not what believers are expected to do today.
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