Which is why certain anti-Romanists deny that Peter was ever in Rome.;-) Fact is that already by the time of Justin Martyr, Rome was already a major pilgrimage site, and its Church has always profited from this. No other city has been so fortunate as to have such an industry or for so long, not even Jerusalem. Going back to my starting point. the papacy is founded on Rome’s claim to be the site of Peter’s martyrdom and of his tomb. Jews, even Muslims, those iconoclasts, attach great importance to tombs.
Was Peter ever in Rome?
According to Acts 18:2, "...Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome."
Also, from the first 15 chapters of Acts and the book of Galatians, we know that Peter's ministry, at least until 49 A.D. was in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and Antioch.
If Peter had established his ministry in Rome after 49 or 50 A.D.. why didn't Paul mention him in his letter to the Romans? Romans was written about 58 A.D. Paul neither mentioned Peter nor addressed the letter to him. Although Paul does greet 26 other people in Rome by name. (Rom. 16:1-16).
Paul does not mention Peter in any of his four letters written from a Roman prison, either. 61 A.D. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. In his last letter from Rome, Paul writes to Timothy "At my first defense no one supported me, may it not be counted against them. "(2 Tim. 4:16). 66 A.D. "Only Luke is with me." (2 Tim. 4:11).
If Peter had been in Rome at this time, SURELY he would have visited Paul. Surely Paul would have sent greetings to Peter if he had been in Rome.
That leaves one year for Peter to have set up his governing ministry in Rome. 67 A.D. Is Babylon a code name for Rome? Because this is the only year an argument could possibly be made for Peter's ministry in Rome. One year. To set up the basis of the Catholic Chu;rch.
Which may well be ONE reason why Christ said . . .
LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD.
So many stories! So much legend! No hard facts!
How many skulls did you say Peter had? :)