Yes, many believers in Jerusalem were poor because they had sold their property and given the proceeds to the apostles, expecting the Kingdom to come imminently.
According to Les Feldick, early Jewish believers liquidated their assets and pooled the money, anticipating that the King would soon establish His Kingdom and eliminate poverty. When Israel rejected the Kingdom, the funds ran out, leaving them destitute. God then provided for them through offerings collected by Paul from Gentile believers.
Acts 4:34-35 — This passage describes how believers sold lands and houses and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet, leading to their later poverty.
In Acts 4:34-35, the Bible records that among the early believers in Jerusalem, "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 that believers voluntarily sold their property and gave the money to the apostles for distribution to those in need. Paul's epistles and Acts also reference collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem. In Romans 15:25-26, Paul writes, "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem." This indicates that Jerusalem believers were known to be poor and needed financial help from Gentile churches.
Les Feldick explains that the early Jewish believers in Jerusalem were not part of the Church (the Body of Christ) but a separate group of Jewish believers who had accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah. They believed the Kingdom of heaven was about to be established, so they sold their lands and houses and pooled all their money into a common fund, expecting that in the Kingdom there would be no poverty and no need for personal wealth. They did this gladly, as they thought they would not need property. However, Israel as a nation rejected the Kingdom, so the Kingdom did not come in that generation. The common fund eventually ran dry because it was not being replenished, and these believers became destitute. God, in His grace, recognized their good intentions and provided for them through offerings that Paul collected from his Gentile converts. This is why Paul, during his missionary journeys, repeatedly took up collections for the "poor saints" in Jerusalem.
Les Feldick teaches that the early Jewish believers sold their property because they believed the Kingdom of heaven was imminent. They thought that when the Kingdom came, there would be no need for houses or lands, as everyone would enjoy the wealth of the Kingdom. Therefore, they willingly liquidated their assets and placed the money in a common fund.
When Israel rejected the Kingdom and it did not come in, the common fund ran out. Les Feldick points out that once the believers had given away all their material wealth, they had nothing to fall back on, so they became poor. He compares this to entitlement programs that run out of money when continuously dispensed without new input.
God was gracious and recognized that these believers had acted with good intentions. He laid it on the hearts of Paul's Gentile converts to give offerings for the poor saints in Jerusalem. Paul took up collections during his missionary journeys, even from very poor Gentile believers in Macedonia and Achaia, to support the Jewish believers back in Jerusalem.
Believers Sold Lands and Houses
Les Feldick shows from Acts 4 that believers sold their property and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet, emphasizing this was not church (Body of Christ) practice but a unique Jewish assembly behavior.
Kitty Ran Dry
Les explains that Israel's rejection of the Kingdom led to the common fund running out, leaving the believers poor, but God provided through Paul's collections from Gentiles.
Expectation of the Kingdom
Les explains why they sold everything: they expected the Kingdom to come soon, so they would not need houses or lands.
Gentile Offerings for Jewish Believers
Les highlights that even poor Gentile converts in Greece gave offerings for the poor saints in Jerusalem, showing the new nature of true believers.
Consequences of Rejection
Les reiterates that when Israel rejected the Kingdom, the believers' resources ran out and they became destitute, but God continued to care for them through Gentile offerings.
Common Kitty Analogy
Les uses the American entitlement program analogy to show how a common fund cannot sustain indefinitely, illustrating why the Jerusalem believers ran out.
Kitty Ran Empty
Les explains that without new believers adding to the kitty, it eventually ran empty, leading to poverty, and Paul's collections were God's provision.
Poverty of Gentile Converts
Les notes that the Gentile believers themselves were intensely poor, yet they still gave to support the Jewish believers in Jerusalem.
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 selling of property and pooling of resources, which later led to poverty.
Romans 15:25-26: But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
Paul explicitly refers to the Jerusalem believers as 'poor saints' and mentions the collection for them.
According to Les Feldick, the believers in Acts 2-5 were not the Church (the Body of Christ) but a separate group of Jewish believers who believed Jesus was the Messiah, awaiting the Kingdom. This is not the same as the Church which began with Paul.
Yes, they became destitute because they had sold everything and the common fund ran out when the Kingdom did not come. God provided for them through offerings from Gentile believers, but they remained poor for the rest of their lives.
Paul collected offerings because the Jerusalem believers had exhausted their resources and were poor. God used Paul's Gentile converts to provide for them, recognizing their good intentions.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Ananias & Sapphira Die? Acts 5 Explained