1/27/2026

Day 27: 

The Early Church's Possessions

Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37

"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." (Acts 4:32)

The early church's radical surrender of possessions flowed from their radical experience of grace. They didn't give out of guilt but out of gratitude. Having encountered the risen Christ and received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, these believers discovered that everything had changed—including their relationship with their possessions.

After Pentecost, the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. But perhaps the most miraculous sign was this: "All who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need" (Acts 2:44-45).

This wasn't mandated communism or enforced redistribution. It was voluntary generosity flowing from surrendered hearts. They recognized that everything they had came from God and belonged to God. As Psalm 24:1 declares, "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." When they saw needs, they met them. When brothers and sisters lacked, they gave. Surrender of possessions expressed surrender to Christ and commitment to His body.

Chapter 4 adds remarkable detail: "There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need" (Acts 4:34-35). No one lacked because those who had surrendered their surplus. This fulfilled the ancient promise of Deuteronomy 15:4: "There will be no poor among you."

Barnabas exemplified this spirit. A Levite from Cyprus, he owned a field, sold it, and brought the money to the apostles. Luke introduces him here to show what surrendered generosity looks like—cheerful, complete, trusting leadership to distribute wisely. Barnabas means "son of encouragement," and his surrender encouraged the entire community. His example stands in stark contrast to Ananias and Sapphira's pretense that follows in Acts 5.

This surrender produced remarkable unity: "The full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul" (Acts 4:32). When we surrender our resources, we discover genuine community. When we stop clutching our possessions, we start embracing our brothers and sisters. Financial surrender breaks down the walls that money inevitably builds between people. As Jesus warned, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24).

Notice the powerful result: "And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33). Their surrendered community became powerful witness. Their love for one another testified to Jesus' resurrection as loudly as the apostles' preaching. As Jesus promised, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). The world still needs to see Christians who live as if their possessions belong to God and their brothers' needs matter as much as their own.

This pattern challenges modern Christianity. We've privatized faith and individualized stewardship. We give percentages but rarely ask if others have need. We calculate tithes but resist radical generosity. We accumulate possessions while brothers and sisters go without. The early church's example confronts our comfortable Christianity with the uncomfortable truth that genuine faith transforms how we hold our resources.

Yet their surrender wasn't burdensome—they partook of food "with glad and generous hearts, praising God" (Acts 2:46-47). Joy accompanied generosity. Surrender produced gladness. When we release our grip on possessions, we discover the truth Jesus taught: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

This doesn't mean selling everything is required for all believers in all circumstances. But it does mean everything we have should be available to God's purposes and His people's needs. It means living with open hands, not closed fists. It means measuring wealth not by what we keep but by what we can give. As Paul would later write, "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share" (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

The early church's surrender of possessions reflected their understanding that Christ had surrendered everything for them. As Paul wrote, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). They'd been bought with a price; they were not their own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Their money wasn't their own either. They were stewards, not owners; managers, not masters.

What would it look like for you to live as if none of your possessions were your own? How would your spending, saving, and giving change if you truly surrendered your resources to God? The early church shows us that financial surrender isn't impoverishment but the pathway to community, joy, and powerful witness. When we surrender what we have, we discover what really matters—and it's not what we can keep but what we can give.

"God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." — 2 Corinthians 9:7-8