Were the first disciples really communists?
Just the other day I was listening to [political] talk radio when someone called in and used this passage as a Biblical means of support for Communism. As another contributor has already pointed out, these people voluntarily sold things for the benefit of the group; they were not forced to sell them and the proceeds of the sales were not confiscated by the apostles. As we read a few chapters later, Ananias and Sapphira were only punished because they lied about giving the whole sales proceeds to the church, when in fact they kept some for themselves. Peter clearly states that the money was theirs to do with as they pleased, but they chose to lie and make it sound like they were making a greater sacrifice than they actually did.
The important thing to note about these passages is the time during which they occurred. At this time people were often disowned by their families for following Christ, and thus had to rely on the Church for their needs. Such is not the case in here in the US. We may be criticized for evangelizing, but very infrequently are we thrown out in the streets for fend for ourselves. These passages cannot be translated into today as a means by which to say that the first church supported/practiced Karl Marx's form of Communism.
The important thing to note about these passages is the time during which they occurred. At this time people were often disowned by their families for following Christ, and thus had to rely on the Church for their needs. Such is not the case in here in the US. We may be criticized for evangelizing, but very infrequently are we thrown out in the streets for fend for ourselves. These passages cannot be translated into today as a means by which to say that the first church supported/practiced Karl Marx's form of Communism.
