The Groundlessness [of the Allegations] of Those who Are Accustomed to Deduce…

Besides the fact that the three passages put forward are of no use to the papists in proving Peter's supremacy over the other apostles and the whole Christian church, there follow various reasons and circumstances which show clearly that the succession of the popes, which they would trace back to Peter, cannot stand, but is unfounded and untrue.

For, to come to the point, it cannot be shown that Peter was ever at Rome (where the seat of the pope is placed), except at the close of his life, and then he was not received as pope, but was put to death as a martyr, with Paul, his fellow apostle, for the testimony of Jesus Christ, as we have shown in detail in the History of the Holy Martyrs, of the year 69. Also, Egesippus. Historie van de verstoring Jerusalem, book 3, chapter 2. Also, W. Baudart., Apophthegmata Christiana, book 1, ex Hieronymo de viris illustribus. Johan. Strac., in festo Johannis Evangelistae, and so on. [n70-1]

Eusebius quotes from Dionysius, a teacher of the church at Corinth, concerning the coming of Paul and Peter to Rome, and also concerning their preaching, which was the cause of their death, these words: They (namely Paul and Peter) were both together in our congregation at Corinth, teaching from there on throughout all Italy; they taught also in this city (namely, Rome, of which he had first spoken), where they both were crowned martyrs at the same time. Eusebius Pamphilius, Chronicon Ecclesiasticum, edition of 1588, book 2, chapter 25. [n70-2]

He speaks of Peter's coming to Rome, and of his preaching there, as though it took place at the close of his life; and although he puts Paul's coming and preaching in the same time, Paul's coming to this city nevertheless happened much earlier than the coming of Peter, which took place shortly before their death; and in that time the two of them together preached the holy Gospel in that city.

That Paul was there much earlier and longer is clear from all the circumstances of the Acts of the Apostles; for while Peter was preaching at Cesarea, Antioch, Jerusalem, and in other places, Paul was brought to Rome, and, having arrived there, "dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him." Here the account of the Acts of the Apostles ends, without mentioning anything further of Peter. See Acts 28, verses 30 and 31.