Dear friend in Christ,
We've been down this road before but I am more than willing to traverse it with you. Jesus, knowing that He could not remain on earth forever, did not want to leave us orphans, so he established the role of a successor to carry on the faith and proclaim it to the entire world.
Matt. 10:1,40 - Jesus declares to His apostles, "he who receives you, receives Me, and he who rejects you, rejects Me and the One who sent Me." Jesus freely gives His authority to the apostles in order for them to effectively convert the world.
John 16:14-15 - what the Father has, the Son has, and the Son gives it to the apostles. The authority is not lessened or mitigated.
Acts 20:28 - the apostles are shepherds and guardians appointed by the Holy Spirit / 1 Peter 2:25 - Jesus is the Shepherd and Guardian. The apostles, by the power of the Spirit, share Christ's ministry and authority.
SO many times people have tried to get through to you. Verse after verse after verse has been posted to you and others. Let there be no doubt. The truth is now known to you - straight from the Bible.
And it is given back to you, as well, verse by verse.
This verse references this verse. Act 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Your bible says 'ancients' as opposed to elders...It is NOT a reference to 'Apostles'...And these elders that were shepherds that were appointed by the Holy Spirit were appointed in ALL the churches...
They were under the authority of Paul, NOT Peter...The apostles did not cross over into another's jurisdiction...And Paul was not under the authority of Peter...Paul was the apostle for the gentile church...