The Greek apophtheggomai means to speak out clearly, to declare boldly, or to utter in a clear, authoritative voice. It conveys the idea of confident, deliberate proclamation rather than muttered speech.
Apophtheggomai appears three times in Acts and carries tremendous significance. At Pentecost, the Spirit-filled disciples 'began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance' (Acts 2:4). Peter declared to the crowd, 'I am not drunk... but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel' (Acts 2:14 — apephtheggato). The word was also used in the Greek world for oracular, prophetically authoritative speech. Its use in Acts frames the apostolic proclamation as bold, Spirit-empowered, authoritative declaration — not tentative opinion but divine proclamation.