▶ Key Takeaways
- The early church began in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus’ crucifixion.
- About 3,000 people believed in Jesus and were baptized after Peter’s public sermon.
- Luke describes these new believers as having “all things in common” and sharing with those in need.
- Some Christians interpret this passage as an example of socialism or a socialist economy.
- The article argues that the context describes voluntary Christian communalism rather than socialism.
- The selling of property was voluntary and limited to the believers, without government involvement or compulsory redistribution.
- Jesus did not teach all His followers to sell their possessions and give the money to the poor.
- The article distinguishes socialism as coercive, government-controlled wealth redistribution from the voluntary sharing practiced by the early Christians.
- The Old Testament established tithe principles to provide for priests, the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners without land.
- The Bible warns that ignoring or exploiting the poor brings judgment, while caring for them brings blessing.
- The apostle Paul taught believers to give voluntarily and cheerfully.
Socialists often say their system is Biblical.
And many Christians – especially Millennials and Gen Zers – are beginning to agree.
Why?
Because they believe the Bible teaches that every person is equally valuable…
And they believe the Bible also teaches that:
- Everyone should be treated with equal respect regardless of their socio-economic status
- The poor and less fortunate should be helped by the rich and more fortunate
- Socialism, not capitalism, is the only way to accomplish the above Biblical mandates
There are both truths and falsehoods in the above statements.
Truth combined with falsehood produces deception.
The problem is that the media, most politicians, teachers, and many pastors don’t know what the Bible really says.
Let me explain 5 Biblical principles that expose the lies.
Let’s start with a passage in Acts chapter 2 that seems to describe a socialist economy in the first century church.
Luke, the writer of Acts of the Apostles, describes the Christians in Jerusalem after the feast of Pentecost:
“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)
Let’s closely examine a few things in this passage:
- the context of this statement
- what having “all things in common” was referring to
- how the situation in Jerusalem compares with a socialist economy
- what Jesus Himself said about the poor
1. The Context.
Religious Jews from many different ethnic groups, speaking many different languages, lived in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:5)
Visitors from Rome, Arabia and the island of Crete – “both Jews and proselytes” – had also gathered in Jerusalem for the annual Feast of Weeks — which concluded each year with Pentecost.
Pentecost was so named because it was the 50th day after Passover.
The Holy Spirit had just descended upon the 120 followers of Jesus, enabling them to speak in all of the languages represented by the foreigners who were in Jerusalem for the feast.
As a result of Peter’s sermon, about 3,000 people became believers in Jesus that day.
Up until that day, the “church” had consisted of “about 120 of the Lord’s followers.” (Acts 1:15)
In one day, the Jerusalem “church” mushrooms from about 120 to about 3,120.
When Luke says, “all those who had believed were together and had all things in common,” he’s talking about the roughly 3,000 new believers who had just been baptized — some of whom didn’t live in Jerusalem.
2. All Things in Common.
What did Luke mean when he said that the new believers “were together and had all things in common”?
First of all, it’s difficult to imagine that 3,000 or more people stayed together physically 24/7 inside the city.
Later in Acts 2 we read:
“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart… And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)
They were “together” in their new faith, in their praise and worship, and in their “continuing with one mind.”
Also, we know from the context of previous verses that they had several things in common:
- They all had faith in Jesus.
- Baptism — all 3,000 of the new believers were baptized. (Acts 2:41)
- They were all devoted to the teaching of the apostles.
- They were all devoted to fellowship.
- They were all devoted to “the breaking of bread” — sharing meals together.
- They were all devoted to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
One other thing they had in common – implied by Acts 2:46-47 above – was their meals.
They were eating meals together “from house to house.”
Perhaps they were pooling their money together to buy bread and food.
Maybe their meals were like our modern day “pot lucks.’
This is not stated specifically, so it is only conjecture…
It’s in all of the above identified contexts that “they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”
3. A socialist economy?
A question we might ask ourselves at this point: who might have had need during this aftermath of Pentecost when many nonresidents of Jerusalem who had come for the feast decided to stay rather than go home?
Those in need were not necessarily the poor – some of them undoubtedly were the visitors who had come for the Feast of Weeks and because of their extended stay had run out of money.
But regardless of who Luke is referring to here, notice the differences between this specific event and a socialist system:
Jerusalem Communalism:
- People sold property and possessions voluntarily.
- The apostles did not command or even encourage this form of sharing.
- There was no taxation of income.
- There was no government involvement – either civic or ecclesiastical.
- There was no identified group of recipients. Notice that Luke said that the voluntarily contributed funds were shared “as anyone might have need.”
- No one outside the group of believers received monetary assistance.
Many churches today have food banks which are stocked by voluntarily donations from church members.
The food is available for anyone who might have need – even those outside that particular church group.
This is not socialism in any way, shape or form.
Socialism:
- People are coerced or forced to contribute a specified amount based on income and assets.
- The system is involuntary, not voluntary.
- The collection and distribution of funds is controlled by the government.
- If someone resists or refuses to pay “their fair share,” their property or possessions can be seized by the government.
4. What Jesus said about the poor.
There are some who believe Jesus endorsed socialism when he told a wealthy ruler to sell everything he owned and give the money to the poor.
The story is told by Luke in Luke 18:18-25.
The wealthy person had come to Jesus and had asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
The question itself showed that he didn’t understand that salvation cannot be earned… it can be found only in the Person of Christ the Savior.
But Jesus – as he always did – communicated with the wealthy man on his level – the level of salvation by works.
He said, “You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.” (Luke 18:20)
The man said he had kept those commandments from his youth.
Notice that Jesus left out the first commandment – You shall have no other gods before Me – and the last commandment – You shall not covet.
The man’s wealth was his god.
That is why Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor…
And then he told him after giving up his false god: “…come, follow Me.” (Luke 18:22)
Jesus was not introducing a universal command that applies to everyone.
He did not tell anyone else to sell their possessions and give the money to the poor.
In fact, in Mark 14, a woman came to Jesus while he was eating a meal, broke a vial of very expensive perfume and anointed Jesus’ feet. (Mark 14:3)
Some of the dinner guests complained that the perfume should have been sold – instead of “wasting it” on the feet of Jesus – and the money given to the poor.
In Jesus’ reply, he said, “… you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.” (Mark 14:7)
So notice what Jesus says about the poor and our responsibility to help them:
- There will always be poor people in the community.
- Helping the poor is voluntary, not mandatory.
- Jesus should be our number 1 priority, not serving the poor.
Those who reject Jesus and who want to pat themselves on the back and feel good about forcing everyone to help the poor through coercive taxation will never understand Biblical truth or God’s economic principles.
5. General principles.
Nothing that has been said above should be construed as advocating ignoring or taking advantage of the poor or the disabled, or widows, or orphans.
In the Old Testament, God established economic principles to help the poor survive and thrive:
- Owners of grain fields and vineyards were not to harvest all the way to the edges of their property, so that the poor and the widows, orphans and foreigners could “glean” what was left behind. (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19-21)
- God also instituted a “poor tithe” at the end of every third and sixth year of each 7-year economic cycle. The tithe was deposited locally within their towns to support the priests, the foreigners, orphans and widows. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29, 26:12-15)
In addition to the tithe principles which were designed by God to take care of the poor and needy, He promised individual blessings on those who voluntarily helped the poor – and warned against having contempt for the poor:
- “He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)
- “Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their case and take the life of those who rob them.” (Proverbs 22: 22-23)
- “He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.” (Proverbs 28:27)
On a national level, the Old Testament prophets condemned the Israelite nation when they failed to provide justice for the poor among them.
Here are just two examples:
“Woe to those who enact evil statutes ant to those who constantly record unjust decisions, so as to deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor of My people of their rights, so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans. Now what will you do in the day of punishment, and in the devastation which will come from afar?” (Isaiah 10:1-2)
“Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor and exact a tribute of grain from them, though you have built houses of well-hewn stone, you will not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine. For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, you who distress the righteous and accept bribes and turn aside the poor in the gate.” (Amos 5:11-12)
In the New Testament churches, the apostle Paul – by direction of the Holy Spirit – instructed congregations to give cheerfully and voluntarily on the first day of the week. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
The politicians, pastors, Christian teachers and social media influencers who claim that socialism is Biblical and Christian are wrong.
The Bible says just the opposite.
What do you think? Email me at [email protected].
Action:
- Get my book, The Great Deception: 10 Shocking Dangers and the Blueprint for Rescuing the American Dream. Read the Preface: “The Epic Battle: Statism and Collectivism vs. Freedom and Prosperity.” Also pay close attention to Chapter 2, “The Road to Socialism.” Click HERE to order the book online.You can order the book on AmazonOr get the audiobook version HERE and on Kindle HERE.You can also get an autographed edition online HEREor by phone at 615-814-6633 (M-F 10 am to 3 pm).
You can also send a check for $26.13 (including shipping) payable to Media Specialists and send it to this address:
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FAQs:
Q: What is the difference between biblical communalism and socialism?
A. Biblical communalism: Voluntary, temporary, limited to believers, no government role, shared “as anyone might have need.”
Socialism: Compulsory, government-enforced, based on income/assets, with penalties for non-compliance (including seizure of property).
Q: Did the early church in Jerusalem practice socialism?
A. No. In Acts 2:44-45, Luke describes a temporary, voluntary Christian communalism among the roughly 3,000 new believers in Jerusalem after Pentecost. People sold property and possessions and shared with those in need purely of their own free will. There was no coercion, no government involvement, no taxation, and no mandatory redistribution. Socialism involves forced wealth confiscation and redistribution controlled by the state—something entirely different.
Q: Who was involved in the “all things in common” practice?
A: It was limited to the new believers in the Jerusalem church. Many of those in need were likely visitors who had come for the Feast of Weeks/Pentecost and stayed longer than planned. The practice did not extend to the entire city, the government, or the nation.
Q: Did the apostles command or require people to sell their property?
A. No. There is no record of the apostles ordering, encouraging, or institutionalizing the sale of property as a requirement of faith. It was completely voluntary.
Q: Did Jesus teach that all His followers must sell everything and give to the poor?
A. No. In the encounter with the rich ruler (Luke 18:18-25), Jesus exposed the man’s true god—his wealth—and called him to follow Him. This was a specific diagnosis for that individual, not a universal command.
Q: What does the Bible actually say about helping the poor?
A. In the Old Testament, God instituted gleaning practices and set up tithing requirements to provide for the poor, the foreigners, widows and orphans. In the New Testament, helping the poor is repeatedly encouraged and is a mark of righteousness, but it is voluntary, not coerced by government.
Q: Isn’t caring for the poor at scale only possible through socialism?
A. No. Voluntary generosity, church-based mutual aid, private charity, and free-market prosperity have historically helped far more people than coercive systems. Biblical principles emphasize personal responsibility, voluntary giving, and protection of property rights alongside care for the needy—not state-controlled economies.
About Craig Huey:
Craig Huey is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and publisher of The Huey Alert and Direct Marketing Update. Craig appears on national media such as FOX, FOX Business, Newsmax and more. He also co-hosts The Huey Alert Podcast with his wife Shelly and helps business leaders, Christians, conservatives, libertarians, young people and more understand the intersection of faith, politics, and freedom.