"According to their ability . . . " (RV)

 . . .  each would send relief to the believers living in Judea . . . 

 - From Acts 11

Bad things happen to believers, as well as to skeptics. A famine hit the land, and in response, Dr. Luke records an act of the apostles, that sounds rather communist. 

The believers in Antioch took up a collection, each according to their ability, to send aid to others in the worst-hit region (Judea), according to their need. 

But here's where there is a problem. They sent relief to believers in Judea. Uh-oh. What about all the needy? 

Is there nothing here about refugees being supported? Why didn't the Antioch disciples set up a big caravan to bring Judeans, all Judeans, into Antioch? Let them move into a region that was still relatively resourceful. 

But no . . . they sent aid . . . and they sent it to people like themselves.

Is this what infuriated King Herod, to the point that he took James, the Apostle, and had him executed? Were the Christians being singled out, because they were making it through the famine okay, thanks to the aid from Antioch believers? Did Herod play on the resentment of the people, fashion it into righteous indignation, just so that he could establish fear among the people?

It's like the air travel scenario: take care of yourself first. Take care of your family first, then your neighbors, then your extended family and larger community. God knows that charitable people need resources. They need health and strength. 

We must not assume that the believers in Judea didn't support non-believers that needed it. 

But we may conclude that they did take care of themselves first. And that, for whatever reason, unbelievers always have and always will, hate the believers (going all the back to Cain's resentment of Abel), and all it takes is a little famine, to garner support for a purge. 

Communism, rendered effectively, requires that we take care of our own . . . first . . . so that we may serve others.