 | All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. |
 | 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. |
 | And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. |
| Acts 2:44-45 |
Commentary
The disposal and distribution of possessions in the early church was directed among all, as anyone had need. When a physical or spiritual need became known in the church, action was taken to address it (1 John 3:17). The NT believers demonstrated their love for one another by giving self-sacrificially. Was this a form of early communism? Most definitely not. Communism teaches that possessions should be distributed to everybody equally, so that nobody will have more than anyone else. Here, the disposal and distribution of the possessions of the early church was based on need. In communism the state uses the police power to accomplish the desired result. Here, the pooling of resources was not obligatory but a free expression of love to those who were poor and hurting.Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Ac 2:44-45). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.