Peter and the Apostles received their authority directly from Jesus. Paul did not.
Paul did not? He even says he received his authority from the Lord. It’s in the epistle to the Galatians. “Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),” “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:1, 1:12…
oh, wait, I just saw in the same epistle a passage that indicated Peter’s leadership.
“But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles except ames, the Lord’s brother.” 1:15-19
but where do we get the indication that the authority of Peter was passed on to his successors, specifically Rome?