These early believers were most of them immediately cut off from family and friends by the zealous bigotry of the Jews. Many of the converts were thrown out of business, and exiled from their homes because they followed the convictions of their consciences, and espoused the cause of Christ. It was necessary to provide this large number, congregated at Jerusalem, with homes and sustenance. Those having money and possessions cheerfully sacrificed them to the existing emergency. Their means were laid at the feet of the apostles, who made distribution to every man according as he had need; and there were none among them who lacked. {3SP 283.1}

De fleste af disse første troende var hurtigt afskåret fra familie og venner af jødernes meget blinde tro. Mange af de omvendte var trukket ud af forretninger, og forvist fra deres hjem fordi de havde fulgt deres samvittigheds overbevisning, og gjorde sig til talsmand for Kristi sag. Det var nødvendigt at forsyne disse mange mennesker, der var samlet i Jerusalem, med hjem og underhold. I nødssituationen ofrede dem med penge og ejendomme glædeligt til dem. Deres midler blev lagt frem for fødderne af apostlene, som fordelte til enhver efter hans behov; og der var ingen iblandt dem der led nød.