Please explain....also what is the difference in witnessing and scriptural recitation for Christ?
The people that were appointed to preach the gospel were appointed to death because it is through their deaths that the gospel is effective:
Luke 12:49I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
Mark 10:
35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36“What do you want Me to do for you?” He inquired.
37They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory.”
38“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”
39“We can,” the brothers answered.
“You will drink the cup that I drink,” Jesus said, “and you will be baptized with the baptism that I undergo.
40But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
John 6:
61Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?
62Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?
63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
Jesus teaches the gospel. His words live on through His listeners because His words are spirit and life but Jesus' ministry was only in Jerusalem so He appointed the apostles and gave them His words (spirit) to preach the Gospel to the world. Basically, Jesus was preaching through His appointees.
Jesus refused them the authority to be called teachers and Fathers because the gospel is a command from a higher authority and if anyone listens and obeys the command, they become one with the authority because the spirit (words) will live in them.
Matt 23:
8But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
10Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ.
11The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Yes the apostles were called teachers and Paul was even called Father but only in the sense of how people perceived them but they did not give themselves or consider themselves an authority over others. If they did that, the gospel wouldn't be effective because people would have obeyed them as opposed to obeying God who saves through His spirit.
The words or spirit lives on to their listeners after they die:
2 Cor 4:
12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,”
c we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak, 14knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Teachers or preachers today are not appointed by God - meaning that God does not speak through them. They are not ordained to die for the gospel so their preaching is ineffective and obeying them is futile because you'll be obeying a self appointed authority and not God.