Verse 45 And parted them to all men, &c. that is, they sold their goods for the purpose of distributing to the poor, so far as there was need; and they did this so freely that they might be said to have all things common. The idea which has been sometimes entertained, that the early Christians adopted the principle of a community of goods, as the basis of their system of social polity is clearly erroneous. All the allusions to the subject of property which occur hereafter in this book, and in the Epistles, show that the title to property continued to be held personally, by individuals, and was not vested in the church. Hence the rich and the poor are constantly spoken of, and contributions are taken up in the churches when required.