Comparison of Acts 13:1 with Romans 12:7, 2 Timothy 1:11; 2 Timothy 4:3, James 3:1 shows that ‘teachers’ (διδάσκαλοι) are not a separate order of officials, but a class of men endowed with a particular gift, which they exercised in congregations already established. As distinct from the ecstatic exhortations of ‘prophets,’ the instruction given by ‘teachers’ would be exposition of the OT and of the words and acts of Christ. ‘Teachers’ were inferior to ‘apostles’ and ‘prophets,’ and were connected with ‘pastors’ (1 Corinthians 12:28-29, Ephesians 4:11). ‘Apostles’ always had the gift of teaching; ‘prophets’ and ‘pastors’ usually possessed it: but men might have it without belonging to any of these classes. See Church Government, Ministry.
A. Plummer.