In Acts 4, there is an instance of outrageous generosity. There was such unity people were selling their positions, even land and houses, and helping those in need. Socialist-leaning Christians often use this passage to rail against the treachery of capitalism. But as you will see, it does nothing of the sort.

This instance was at the very early formation of the church. Peter and other apostles were preaching fiercely to the very people who were complicit in Jesus' crucifixion. Thousands of people were joining this group of people who believed in the resurrection of Jesus.

Verse 32 says, "All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had".

Is this the first redistribution of wealth in history? Not really, It was a voluntary reaction to what the Holy Spirit was doing in the people being saved. There was no directive from the apostles and no coersion or confiscation from a higher authority.

Verse 35 says "There were no needy people among them because those who owned land or houses would sell them". Something beautiful was happening in the hearts of those early believers as those that could, sold expensive asetts voluntarily and shared the proceeds with those in need.

Does this mean this is how the church was supposed to function going forward. Should we be selling our homes and give the proceeds to the church? Evidently not, this never happened again in the NT church. It appears this instance of spontaneous generosity was a one off.

Personal homes were often used to hold church gatherings throughout the book of Acts. Simon the Tanner, Lydia and Phillip the Evangelist all held private property from where they engaged in ministry.

Sadly, the Jerusalem church remained in constant need in the first century from pursecution and drought. So much so that Paul was constantly taking offerings from weathier churches to support the needs of the saints in Jerusalem.