Indeed it was. The LORD Jesus Christ told them to do it.
Luke 12:33 (AKJV/PCE)
(12:33) Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Peter believed it and did it.
Matt 19:27 (AKJV/PCE)
(19:27) ¶ Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Those that were following Peter and the other 11 apostles for the 12 tribes of Israel did it. It's says it right there in the text.
Acts 2:44-45 (AKJV/PCE)
(2:44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (2:45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all [men], as every man had need.
There was a reason for it....