In our study of Acts, we have read these scriptures:
Acts 2:44–45: “And all that believed were together, and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”
Acts 4:32, 34–35: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”
My Question: Was it common in those times for the treasurer of a rich man’s house to be known as the one with the “keys”? If the disciples were still expecting Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom, would they then have thought Peter was to be the Lord’s treasurer, since Jesus told Peter he would be given the keys to his kingdom? And then, could that be why everyone had to bring their goods to Peter?
jdjr
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Those are some interesting questions, JD. I don’t have any information about how common it was for a treasurer to be known to have the keys of the household, but I assume it was standard. One Old Testament king’s treasurer, Eliakim, is called the head of the king’s household, and he is said to have had governmental authority (Isa. 22:15–21). He was even called a father to the nation of Judah (Isa. 22:22). So, everyone in the nation of Judah, I feel sure, would have assumed that Eliakim had control of the keys to the king’s house.
It makes sense that the earliest believers would have assumed that Peter would be in a place of authority similar to Eliakim’s place, since they (1) apparently did expect Jesus to return to set up an earthly kingdom and (2) Jesus had promised Peter the keys of his kingdom.
These facts may have played a part in influencing the earliest believers to sell their properties and turning over their profits, but in Acts 4, it does not say they brought the profits to Peter alone, but to all the apostles. So, it doesn’t look like they were thinking exactly what you are asking about.
Thanks for the questions!
jdcsr