Five Simple Biblical Arguments:
That Prove Without a Doubt that
St. Peter was the First Pope

Protestants deny that St. Peter was the first pope and reject the papacy of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It is quite obvious they forgot to open their Bibles and read how Christ while on earth instituted the papacy.

1)"And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven." (Matthew 16:18-19)

2) Peter's name occurs first in all lists of apostles. (Mt 10:2; Mk 3:16; Lk 6:14; Acts 1:13). Matthew even calls him the first,"These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John." (Matt.10:2)

3) Peter is regarded by Jesus as the Chief Shepherd after Himself, singularly by name, and over the universal Church. "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.' Again Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.' The third time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' He said, 'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my sheep.'" (John 21:15-17)

4) Peter is regarded by the Jews as the leader and spokesman of Christianity. (Acts 4:1-13)

5) Peter is the first person to speak (and only one recorded) after Pentecost, so he was the first Christian to "preach the gospel" in the in the Church era. (Acts 2:14-36)