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Acts 2 · a question people ask

"All who believed were together, and had all things in common" (2:44). What does that mean?

In the text

Acts tells it in these words: "All who believed were together, and had all things in common. They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need." (2:44-45). It speaks of having all things in common again in Acts 4, in its own words: "Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common." (4:32), and "distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need" (4:35). The chapter says no more of how it was done than these verses. These notes say what the verses say, and apply them to no church, economy or politics today.

The verses

“All who believed were together, and had all things in common. They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.”
Acts 2:44-45 · World English Bible
“The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.”
Acts 4:32 · World English Bible
“For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need.”
Acts 4:34-35 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Acts 2

Acts 2: Poured out

They asked one another, "What does this mean?" (2:12), and Peter's words came back to the same word: "this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel" (2:16), and Jesus "has poured out this which you now see and hear" (2:33). In Joel's words God says, "I will pour out my Spirit" (2:17); in the Greek it is the same verb.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions