The Dead Sea Scrolls and Early Christianity: Part Two

Many of the ritual and community practices of the Qumran covenanters, who lived near the Dead Sea and who produced what we call the Dead Sea Scrolls, have impressive parallels among New Testament Christians. Here are just a few:

Acts describes the events of the first Pentecost after Jesus’ crucifixion. It then describes the property the community holds in common: “And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:44–45; see also Acts 4:32).