A commune is private.
Isn't a commune - a private public sort of place? A mixture of two notions. People who join communes typically makes vows to be rid of all private property.
Yet, I suppose it is fair to say that communes typically occur on private land. It's a bit of an oxymoron really.
In relation to the early church in Jerusalem, I suggest there was a specific purpose for why this occurred and also why it is not a prescription for the rest of the church.
As you will know from your reading in the Acts of the Apostles, when the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples of Christ at Pentecost, it changed everything. Pentecost was already a wonderful Jewish festival and people from all around the known world, came and celebrated together at Jerusalem. The town's markets would have prepared for this occasion as they did every year.
Yet this year, the year the Holy Spirit fell, it changed everything. The people were hearing the gospel and converting to Christ. People were being baptized and wanting to know more about this Holy Spirit. And about what was happening in the community at the time. Although normally people would finish their holiday and their celebrations and go home, this year, the year the Holy Spirit fell, thousands of people remained in Jerusalem for an extended period of time.
This created a chaos in the city. The town's markets had not catered or planned for an expected period when people would remain in the city. Soon after the normal period of celebrations, the food and the drink and the normal supplies would start to dwindle. It would not be long before there was not enough for everyone.
It takes times to shift in more food and supplies. The coming of the Holy Spirit had changed everything - and the town of Jerusalem and the new converts were not ready for this "type of famine" of supplies.
That's the background. Yes, soon food and supplies would return to the town. But not immediately. And in the context of the times the people of this revival acted in love towards one another - for this extended period of time. Notice - however not everyone sold all of their goods. How do we know? Because they met in private houses. Houses which obviously had not been sold. They met together and they worshiped God.
These were extraordinary times and exciting times. It is a description of what was necessary in those times, but it is not a prescription of how the church should be in every time. Yes, there is an underlying principle of loving others. But in other times, this might entirely different. The beauty of the church and its teachings are they are consistent and yet they are flexible. Covenant theology is brilliant.
Therefore I disagree with your conclusion that "this is how society ought to be". Certainly at the time it was necessary. Yet to apply it in every society would be impracticable. Christianity, like its ancient Jewish heritage acknowledges that private property is good. The Commandment not to steal absolutely implies that private property is not to be stolen. If there were no private property and everything belonged to everyone - then this commandment would have no meaning.
Of course, sharing with people, enabling people to have enough, cooperating are good things. There is no reason why those things ought not exist even within a Capitalist society.
