It is amazing how one can take a scripture and completely misinterpret it and build a doctrine on it. It is amazing that the RCC can tell people that the Apostle Peter was the first pope based on what Jesus said: Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The church was not built on Peter and Peter didn’t have any more authority than the other Apostles. Let us establish by scripture that the church was established on Christ and his teachings.
1Co 3:11 ¶ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Christ, not Peter is the foundation of the church.
Ac 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Even Peter knew that Christ was the foundation and head of the church.
Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Isaiah through the Spirit was writing about Christ.
Even Peter quoted Isaiah: 1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
Zec 3:8 ¶ Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
John used the same expression: Re 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 ¶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. John isn’t talking about Peter.
Jesus referred to himself as a stone: Mt 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
We have no Bible record of Peter ever being in Rome. Catholic tradition says Peter was in Rome for 25 years. There is no proof that he was ever there. Seems like with Paul being in Rome different times and at times at length he would have mentioned Peter. Seems that if Peter was the Pope, he would have visited Paul. In the 16th chapter of Romans, Paul mentions several people and none of them were Peter.
When you read material on this subject note that it is all according to Catholic tradition. We don’t base what we believe on Catholic tradition.