And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Ver. 2. And he opened his mouth] This phrase is not superfluous (as some may conceit), but betokeneth free and full discourse, Ephesians 6:19, of some weighty and important matter, Psalms 78:2, uttered with great alacrity of spirit and vehemency of speech.
And taught them, saying] He taught them sometimes (saith Theodoret) when he opened not his mouth, sc. δια του βιου και θαυματων, by his holy life and wondrous works. A mirror for ministers, who as they should open their mouths with wisdom (heaven never opened in the Revelation, but some great matter followed), so their lives should be consonant to the tenor of their teaching, a very visible comment on the audible word. Timothy must be a stamp, a standard, a pattern, a precedent to the believers, both in word and conversation (τυπος), 1 Timothy 4:12. Aaron must have both bells and pomegranates on his vesture. And ministers should (as Gideon's soldiers) carry trumpets of sound doctrine in one hand and lamps of good living in the other. There should be a happy harmony, a constant consent between their lips and their lives, ινα συνδραμοι ο βιος τω λογω, that their doctrine and conversation may run parallel, as Isidore saith in one place; or (as he hath it more emphatically in another), ινα ο λογος η υπο της πραξεως εμψυχωμενος, that their preaching may have life put into it by their practice. Nolite, saith one, magis eloqui magna, quam vivere. Vivite concionibus, concionamini moribus: Ορθοτομειτε, ορθοποδειτε: λεγοντες πρακτικως πραττοντες λογικως: Sic vocalissimi eritis praecones, etiam cum tacetis. Speak not, but live sermons, preach by your practice: the life of teaching is the life of the teacher.