One of the readings at my church yesterday which we discussed in our Bible study was Acts 2:42–47 where Luke describes life among the believers:

“42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

What struck me about this text was verses 44 and 45. The Apostles and believers held “all things in common” and specifically would “sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need”. Acts 4:32–37 talks about this more and even gives an example involving Barnabas selling his field:

“32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). 37 He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

In case there is any doubt about all things being in common meaning all and not some, the story of Ananias and Sapphira makes it deadly clear in Acts 5:

“5 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!” 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.”

The story presents a challenge to cruciform theology as it shows a wrathful God striking down the couple, a subject of an early post in this subreddit. I won’t go into that topic here as I want to keep the focus on the subject of common ownership. This is a very troubling passage for those who reject that idea while simultaneously claiming to take the Bible literally and its lessons for all time.

What these Scriptural texts point to is that within communities of believers, common rather than private ownership was the norm at the time of the Apostles. Is this a lesson that should be applied now?

It would force us to confront our selfishness head on which is something I believe Jesus’s death highlights. As I wrote previously here Christ “invites people to imagine a world in which they are no longer driven by selfishness but by love of neighbour where, as some versions of the Lord’s Prayer put it, debts are forgiven “as we also have forgiven our debtors”. He presents a utopia where the last come first, the leaders are servants to the population and the poor and marginalised have equal status to the rich and powerful with wealth not accumulated but distributed fairly so that noone is in need.”

Are there any churches today in which congregants possessions are held in common? How have we come to organise so differently to the way the Apostles and early Christians did so? I would be interested in your thoughts.