A number of people throughout history have used these verses to say that the early believers lived in a commune.  But is this the case?

 All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

I’ve known people who have lived in a commune.  They believed that this text was teaching people to sell all their homes and all live together somewhere.  Let’s look at this.

When someone was in need, out of their love and gratitude for Christ they sold possessions and property to supply and lift that burden.  But nowhere does it say they sold all their houses and lived all together.  Whether in a singular house or in a community of houses of all believers.

It simply says when people had needs, they sold stuff and gave the funds to them.  Maybe they sold a piece of land or some clay pots or rugs.  We don’t know.  We do know they did have homes of their own as it says this is where they met.

To say that everyone sold their homes and all lived together is taking the text too far.  And it can lead to some not so healthy things.  Communes tend to drift towards authority and control structures from the leaders.  Those who carry the purse strings typically carry the authority.

This text isn’t calling for that.  It isn’t modeling that.  It is just saying when people had excess and others were in need, they sold what they didn’t need and gave it away for the betterment of those in Christ.