The Early Church and Communism
Though born a Jew and then baptized a Christian, Karl Marx eventually adopted anti-Semitic views and became convinced that Christianity was as corrupt as Judaism. Ironically, it’s often claimed that Christ’s early followers were the first communists. Where does this idea originate?
The evidence is said to be in the book of Acts: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:44–45).
Note, however, that this was a voluntary giving and sharing on the part of the participants, probably to take care of an immediate and extraordinary need or to meet a belief current at the time.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary states: “The selling of property and the common possession of the proceeds may imply that the early church expected the Lord to return soon and establish His kingdom. This may explain why the practice was not continued. Holding everything in common was not socialism or communism because it was voluntary (compare Acts 4:32, 34–35; 5:4).”