Hence "hierarchy."
Hence "Orthodox."
Hence "Catholic and Apostolic."
Constantine, a couple centuries later, was neither a bishop nor Orthodox nor Catholic. He was an Arian.
*snort*
(Sips hot chocolate carefully. Snorts again.)
With all due respect, Mrs. Don-o, I fail to see the relevance of these presents.
While I’m sure that Peter was a fine Pastor (or Bishop, etc, all synonyms) to the congregation at Antioch, at the same time that James, half brother of the Lord Jesus himself, was Pastor of the congregation in Jerusalem, and to whom, by the testimony of Luke, both Peter and Paul deferred in matters of authority among the followers of Jesus, there is absolutely no scriptural evidence that there was any appointable office for any of them to pass on to their successors.
The epistles of Paul are the sole canonical testimony that provides insight to the process of appointing successive leadership to the various congregations, and all of that insight would indicate that their appointments were merely suggestions accompanied by letters of recommendation from the highly respected and revered apostles.
There existed at that time none of the hierarchy that was so denounced by the Lord himself. This is a key element that made the spread of the Gospel unstoppable, regardless of whom the governing authorities may hve captured and murdered.