The Jerusalem believers became destitute because they sold all their possessions into a common fund, the fund ran dry when Israel rejected the Kingdom, and nothing was left to sustain them.
Acts 2 records that the believers sold their possessions and had all things in common, living out of one shared supply. Les Feldick explains that they did this expecting the Kingdom to come at any moment, but Israel did not respond and the Kingdom did not come. With everyone drawing out and nothing putting back in, the common kitty ran dry and the believers were left poor and destitute. God then graciously provided for their physical needs through the offerings Paul collected from his Gentile converts.
Acts 2:44-45 — This verse records the selling of possessions into a common fund, the practice that eventually left the Jerusalem believers without personal resources.
Galatians 2:10 — This verse records the instruction to Paul to remember the poor, which Les directly ties to the impoverished Jerusalem saints.
Acts 2:44-45 (KJV) describes the practice of the first believers in Jerusalem: '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.' Those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds to the apostles, so that no one among them lacked (Acts 4:34-35). In this way, the believers voluntarily turned their personal holdings into a shared supply. The ongoing need of these believers is reflected in Galatians 2:10 (KJV): 'Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.' The poor saints in Jerusalem remained a recognized need long after the Spirit had been poured out.
Les Feldick explains that the early Jewish believers in Jerusalem sold their land, houses, and possessions and placed everything into one common fund (Clips 3, 4). They did this eagerly because the Kingdom seemed 'just over the horizon' — they expected Israel to respond to the apostles' preaching, Christ to return, and the Kingdom to be set up, in which houses, lands, and personal wealth would no longer be needed (Clips 1, 6, 7). But Israel did not respond, and the Kingdom did not come in. With everyone drawing from the common supply and nothing replacing it — with no new believers adding to the fund — the kitty ran dry (Clips 4, 5). Once their wealth was gone, it was hard to start over, and they became poor and destitute (Clips 1, 2). God was gracious, however. Recognizing that these believers had acted with good intentions, He provided for the rest of their physical lives through the offerings Paul collected from his Gentile congregations — which is why Paul was continually remembering the poor saints at Jerusalem (Clips 2, 5, 7).
Scripture records that the believers in Jerusalem 'had all things common' and sold their possessions and goods, parting to everyone as they had need (Acts 2:44-45). Those with lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds to the apostles (Acts 4:34-35). Les Feldick explains why they were so eager: they expected the Kingdom to be set up at any moment, and once the Kingdom came, 'who needs houses and lands and CDs?' because the Old Testament promised the Kingdom would be a utopia (Clips 6, 7).
Les Feldick explains that a common fund being drawn on by everyone with nothing replenishing it cannot last: unless it was growing by new believers coming in and adding to it, it was going to run out (Clips 4, 5). 'When you start living out of a common kitty, unless you've got 50% interest, what's going to happen? It's going to run out' (Clip 4). That is exactly what happened — the kitty ran dry and left them destitute (Clip 1).
Les teaches that God, in His grace, recognized that these believers had acted under good intentions, so He took care of them for the rest of their physical lives using the offerings Paul collected from his Gentile converts (Clip 2). This is why Paul was always taking up collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem (Clips 1, 5) — remembering the poor as he had agreed in Galatians 2:10 (Clip 7).
Les points out that the believers were operating under the Old Testament program: once Israel rejected the Messiah, wrath and vexation would come, and then the King would return to set up the Kingdom (Clip 1). With that in view, they gladly gave their property to the apostles so the Kingdom could be brought in faster, having 'illusions of grandeur' that the Kingdom was just over the horizon (Clips 1, 6). But Israel did not respond, the Kingdom did not come in, and the kitty ran dry (Clips 1, 2).
Manna from Heaven & The Sabbath: Law vs. Grace Explained
And I'm touching on this because I have so many people, they'll either call or they'll ask me in class or something like that, are you sure that we're not supposed to keep the seventh-day Sabbath? Yes, I'm sure, because, you see, that was under the law. It was given even before the law, like I've said, but it was also incorporated into the law.
The Kitty Ran Dry
Les explains that the believers sold everything because they expected the King to return soon, but the Kingdom did not come, the common fund ran dry, and they were left destitute.
Destitute and Cared For by God
Les shows that once the fund was gone it was hard to start over, so the believers became poor, and God graciously supplied their needs through offerings from Paul's Gentile converts.
Living Out of a Common Fund
Les describes the early believers in Acts 2 selling possessions and everyone living out of one common supply, which started out rather large.
A Fund That Was Bound to Run Out
Les compares living out of a common kitty to needing 50% interest — with no new income, the fund was going to run out, and it did.
The Kitty Ran Empty
Les explains that the common fund either had to grow from new believers or run out; it ran out, and Paul began collecting for the poor saints in Jerusalem.
Kingdom Expectations Led to Generosity
Les explains why the believers were so ready to sell their real estate: they expected the Kingdom to be set up anytime, and then no one would need houses or lands.
Remember the Poor
Les connects the request for Paul to 'remember the poor' back to the Acts 2-3 practice of selling everything into the common kitty, done because they expected the Kingdom.
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.
Records the selling of possessions into a common fund, the practice that left the first Jerusalem believers without personal resources.
Acts 4:34: 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,
Shows believers selling houses and lands and bringing the proceeds to the apostles — the very act that left them without personal resources.
Galatians 2:10: Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Records the agreement that Paul would remember the poor, which Les ties to the destitute Jerusalem saints whose common fund had run dry.
Les Feldick explains that they sold their lands, houses, and possessions and put everything into one common fund, expecting the Kingdom to come at any moment. When Israel rejected the Kingdom, the fund was never replenished, ran dry, and left them destitute (Clips 1, 2, 4, 5).
Because the Jerusalem believers had sold everything and the common kitty ran empty. God graciously supplied their needs for the rest of their physical lives through the offerings Paul collected from his Gentile congregations (Clips 2, 5, 7).
Yes. Les teaches that the believers sold everything because they expected Israel to respond and the King to return. Because Israel did not respond and the Kingdom did not come in, their common fund ran dry and they became poor (Clips 1, 2, 6).
Watch the Teaching: Manna from Heaven & The Sabbath: Law vs. Grace Explained