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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.
"They confessed and showed 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 the 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 Matt. 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 Eph. 4: 11, and the Apostle
stressed the fact that he was not only an apostle, or a preacher, but a teacher of the
Gentiles (I Tim. 2: 7; II Tim. 1: 11), and the apostacy of the last days is associated more
with "doctrines" (I Tim. 4: 1; II Tim. 4: 3), and "teachers" (II 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 openly" (Acts 16: 37);
"Convincing 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).