Acts 2:45
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Acts 4:32-35
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
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,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Acts 6:1-6 (we have not come to this chapter yet, but I know it’s there)
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
As I mentioned above, I have been thinking about this situation. A commentary on this would require too much space, so only I want to offer some of the thoughts I have been thinking.
First, the question, Why did they do this? or What led them to do this? I don't think there was enough time for the Apostles to have taught 3000+ people to have all things common, so my conclusion is that this was a spontaneous act. This was something brought about by the Holy Spirit. I think it’s safe to conclude that under the ministry of the Apostles, this was a Spirit-filled church, and the Holy Spirit produced community.
When we read all things common are we to conclude that they all sold all their stuff, including their houses and farms etc and all moved in together? Of course, such an arrangement would have required immediate, large scale organization, such as a place to house all these people! I’m inclined to think something else was meant.
What I find interesting about this is that Jerusalem is the only church we find in the entire New Testament practicing this – selling property and bringing the proceeds to the leadership for distribution. That tells me that this was not something that the Apostles taught or exported outside of Jerusalem. But, there are some principles from this all things common that we do find throughout the New Testament.
So, what are these common traits that we find? I believe it is primarily in the phrase, Neither was there any among them that lacked. This was the purpose for the selling of property and having all things common: distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. This is community. This is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. They were born again unto a genuine love of the brethren.
Thus, a new light is shed on the teaching of Paul concerning love and giving. For example, 2nd Corinthians 8-9. As he lays out the principles of giving he makes it clear he is not ‘commanding’ them or ‘guilting’ them into giving (as is so often the case today), but rather appealing to their love of the brethren. And he declares the principles to be:
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
This seems to me to be the abiding principle of all things common. And this was the practice for the early church down through the years: “One in mind and soul, we do not hesitate to share our earthly goods with one another. All things are common among us but our wives.” (Tertullian)
The case of Ananias & Sapphira in Acts chapter 5 is evident that this matter of selling property and giving the money to the church was voluntary, not compulsion. For when it was revealed that Ananias had lied about his gift, Peter made it clear, while the land was yours it was in your power to do with it what you wanted, and when you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wanted. No compulsion. The motive was love.
In Acts chapter 6, we see that there was a daily distribution. I don’t know how that worked. But the office of deacon was created to take care of the distribution of money or goods or food. All things were common. They were a community and in this community no one went hungry.
There is a lot to ponder concerning this, but it seems to me there is an abiding principle: there was none among them that lacked. What an utter shame it is when we find a church that has some with an abundance and some that lack; some who live extravagant lifestyles, while others barely scrape by. The answer is found in the verse, And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
We have money and possessions in abundance and should probably reevaluate our lives and giving. But what about me??? I am by no means rich, but I have to confess I have abundance. I need to be willing to give more. I need to actually give more. And I need to be aware of those around me in the church who have less than I do. Paul instructs us in Galatians chapter 6, do good unto all men, especially those of the household of faith. We should be unashamed, unabashed, over the top do-gooders.
there was none among them that lacked
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