PETER AND THE PAPACY

PART I : THE PRIMACY OF ST. PETER

TO WHICH OF THE APOSTLES DID OUR LORD SAY...

A.)... "PUT OUT INTO DEEP WATER, AND LET YOUR NETS DOWN FOR A CATCH" (LUKE 5:3)

B.) ..."DON'T BE AFRAID, FROM NOW ON YOU WILL CATCH MEN" (LUKE 5:10)

C.) ..."TAKE IT (A COIN) AND GIVE IT TO THEM FOR MY TAX AND YOURS" (MATT 17:27)

D.) ..."AND I TELL YOU, YOU ARE ROCK, AND ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH"(MATT 16:18)

E.) ..."I GIVE TO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" (MATT 16:19)

F.)... "BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU SIMON, THAT YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL."(LUKE 22:32)

G.) ..."STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS" (LUKE 22:32)

H.)... "FEED MY SHEEP" (JOHN 21:15-17)

    Of course the answer to all of these is the fisherman, Simon, called Peter.

WHICH OF THE APOSTLES IS...

A.) ...ALWAYS FIRST IN ALL THE LISTS OF THE APOSTLES?(MATT 10:2;MARK 3:16; LUKE 6:14; ACTS 1:13)

B.) ...ALWAYS FIRST WHENEVER MENTIONED WITH ANYONE ELSE? MATT 17:1; MATT 26:37; MARK 5:37; MARK 9:2; MARK 14:33; LUKE 8:51; LUKE 7:28)

C.) ...ALONE GIVEN A NEW NAME (JOHN 1:42; MATT 16:18)

D.) ...THE FIRST TO ENTER THE EMPTY TOMB (LUKE 24:12; JOHN 20:6)

E.) ...GIVEN SPECIAL MENTION APART FROM THE OTHER APOSTLES? (MARK 16:7)

F.) ...GIVEN THE MOST MENTION? (PETER = 191 TIMES; JOHN = 48)

G.) ...WALKED ON THE WATER, A PREROGATIVE OF GOD (MATT 14:22ff)

    Of course the answer to all of these is the fisherman, Simon, called Peter.

AFTER THE RESURRECTION, WHICH OF THE APOSTLES...

A.) ...PREACHES THE FIRST SERMON? (ACTS 2:14-26)

B.) ...TAKES THE LEAD IN CALLING FOR A REPLACEMENT FOR JUDAS? (ACTS 1:22)

C.) ...WORKS THE FIRST MIRACLE OF THE CHURCH AGE? (ACTS 3:6-12)

D.) ...UTTERS THE FIRST 'ANATHEMA'? (ACTS 5:2-11)

E.) ... SHADOW WORKS MIRACLES? (ACTS 5:15)

F.) ... IS THE FIRST (AFTER CHRIST), TO RAISE A DEAD PERSON? (ACTS 9:40)

G.) ...IS THE FIRST TO ACCEPT THE GENTILES?(ACTS 10:9-48)

H.) ...SETTLES THE DISPUTE AT THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM? (ACTS 15:7-11)

    Of course the answer to all of these is the fisherman, Simon, called Peter.  Who can doubt it.  These proofs are evidence that Peter was the chief Apostle.  He was looked to as thier leader.  Everyone knew it, even the enemies of our Lord, as Matt 17 attests.  When they were walking, to whom did the Jews ask about paying the temple tax?  Why did they ask Peter, not Jesus?  Why did they ask Peter, not Judas who was treasurer?  Because even their enemies knew who the acknowledged leader was!!

THESE "PROOFS" ARE BY NO MEANS AN ALL EXHUASTIVE LIST, BUT DOES PROVIDE THE CATHOLIC WITH A SOLID BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR "THE PRIMACY OF PETER"

    Now you can go to Proofs of the Papacy to see where Scripture teaches that Peter not only was the chief Apostle, but was given the authority to rule Chrst's flock on earth after His Ascension.