Verses forty-four through forty-seven: Over the past couple of years we in the United States have witnessed the development of a strong political movement that, had it gained control of the White House and the Houses of Congress, would have taken the nation into full-fledged Socialism, aka Communism Light. So powerful was this political wave that Liberalism’s standard bearer was forced to move her political center even farther to the left than she had planned. Those who listened to the rhetoric being used to paint the socialist ideology in a positive light noticed that even the Lord was being brought into the discussion. Liberal politicians, along with their media supporters and Social Gospel proponents repeatedly and loudly referred to the Holy Bible in an attempt to sway the voters to elect government officials who would make Socialism the law of the land. The passage most often used in this attempt is Acts 3:44-47. And as is always the case with the Biblically ignorant, Biblical Truth (Jn. 17:17) plays no part in the discussion. Let those of us who are Truth-oriented examine the Lord’s Word relative to the issue of Socialism with an open heart/mind. See The Social Gospel.

In verses 44,45 we find the new converts joining together for meals, prayer and ministry. Bear in mind that during the Passover-Pentecost season thousands of people came to Jerusalem to celebrate the holy days. Historians note that during those times the city’s population could reach as high as a million. Following the Pentecost of 31 A.D. a large number of these people stayed in the city due to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the miracles that took place afterward. Being visitors to  the city and not having a source of income during their extended stay, they were dependent on their Christian hosts for food, shelter, etc. For this reason believers who lived in the area sold some of their possessions in order to provide for them. The selling of possessions was both voluntary and temporary. Note that there was no governmental rule relative to the selling of one’s possessions. The people were neither asked nor forced to sell their goods. With one exception, there is no indication that the permanent residents sold their houses, lands, etc. See Church Generosity. Having families and businesses to attend to, the visitors eventually returned to their homes in “every nation under heaven” (2:5) where they were instructed to tell “their children” as well as “all who are afar off” (members of the Lost Tribes of Israel) about Jesus of Nazareth (2:36-40). See White Fields.

Notice in verses 42,43 that there is cause and effect relative to what the people did and what God did in response to their actions and attitudes. Note that the converts “CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE … AND MANY WONDERS AND SIGNS WERE DONE BY THE APOSTLES. Notice that the people were “steadfast” in their belief in what the apostle told them. They believed what they were being told because the speakers had been taught by Jesus Himself. As a result, Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, performed many miracles among the people in order to confirm the Truth of what they were hearing. Today we have the same Words spoken by those same apostles in written form. God’s true ministers speak that Word with the same faith. When their Words are believed and obeyed, the same results are witnessed. L.J.