because of the immaturity of the Corinthian saints (1 Cor. 2 and 3). But nothing was kept back because of fear, or

policy, or self-seeking. Our English word `profitable' is not full enough to convey the apostle's meaning here. The

word he used was sumphero, which is often translated `expedient' but even this word has taken upon itself a some-

what sinister meaning. The Greek word occurs twice in the Acts, the first occurrence being Acts 19:19, where it is

translated `brought together':

`Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men' (Acts

In Acts 19:19 the word is used transitively, but in all other passages it is intransitive. While therefore we cannot

translate `I kept back nothing that would bring you together', we must not import into either the word `profit' or

`expedient' some of their modern meanings. The apostle lets a little light into the nature and method of his teaching:

`I ... have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house' (Acts 20:20).

`Showed' - This word must not be confused with an entirely different word that is translated `showed' in verse

35. Here, the original is anaggello (pronounced anangello) and means `to declare', as in verse 27, where the apostle

uses the word a second time. The word suggests that the messenger had `brought back' word, as in Acts 14:27,

where the apostle `rehearsed' all that God had done. It also means an unreserved declaration, as the occurrence in

Acts 19:18 reveals:

`many ... confessed, and shewed their deeds' (Acts 19:18).

The reader will observe that in Acts 19:18-20, it is recorded of the Ephesians that they `brought together' their

books, and confessed and `showed' their deeds and that the apostle, apparently impressed with this genuine

repentance, ever quick to search his own heart, and ever ready to assimilate and use current words and occurrences,

is found using the same word of himself on the next possible occasion.

`And have taught' (didasko, Acts 20:20). - Teaching holds a far more important place than some believers are

prepared to admit.  Our Saviour's public ministry combined preaching with teaching (Matt. 4:23), and His

commission to the apostles, given in the last chapter of Matthew, is `Teaching them to observe' (Matt. 28:20). The

Acts of the Apostles is a continuation of all that Jesus began to do and to teach (Acts 1:1), and the last verse of the

Acts brings together `preaching' and `teaching' (Acts 28:31). It was from among certain `prophets and teachers'

that the Holy Ghost separated preachers for the evangelizing of Galatia (Acts 13:1). From this word comes

didaskalia, `doctrine', which, apart from Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7, is a word exclusive to Paul's writings, where

it occurs nineteen times. Didache, another word translated `doctrine', is more evenly distributed. Didache is

teaching in process, but didaskalia is the substance of the teaching, or, as we express it, doctrine itself.

Teachers, didaskaloi, were included in the gifts of Ephesians 4:11, and the apostle stressed the fact that he was

not only an apostle, or a preacher, but a teacher of the Gentiles (1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11), and the apostasy of the last

days is associated more with `doctrines' (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:3), and `teachers' (2 Tim. 4:3) than with preachers.

This teaching the apostle had conducted both `publicly' and `from house to house'.

Demosios, `publicly', is found only in the Acts of the Apostles, where it occurs four times:

`The common prison' (Acts 5:18);

`Beaten us openly' (Acts 16:37);

`Convinced the Jews ... publicly' (Acts 18:28, and Acts 20:20).

In like manner demos, `the people', occurs four times, and is found only in the Acts.

The apostle's ministry was not conducted in a corner. Like his Master he could say:

`I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort;

and in secret have I said nothing' (John 18:20).