not said to Peter alone and only for him; they did not confer upon him the dignity of supreme pastor of the Apostles and the Church; but were addressed to all the Apostles in common, and to all bishops and pastors who are equally the successors of the Apostles. Moreover, St. Chrysostom perceived neither honour nor authority in these words, but an exhortation to zeal and carefulness. "Three times," he says, "the Lord questioned Peter, and three times he gave him this command, in order to show him how much care must be taken for the salvation of the sheep."[1]
St. Chrysostom himself has refuted the conclusions that the Romanists would draw from the remainder of the text.
"Behold," he says, " how Peter does all things by common consent, and decides nothing by his own authority and power. ..."[2]
"It was not Peter who presented them, (Matthias and Joseph,) but all, (the Apostles.) Thus Peter did nothing but give them counsel, showing moreover that it did not come from him, but had been announced of old in the prophecies, and thus he was the interpreter, but not the master." And again: "Remark the modesty of James, although he had received the Bishopric of Jerusalem, he says nothing on this occasion; consider also the great modesty of the other disciples, who, after unanimously giving the throne to James, no longer disputed among themselves. For that Church was, as it were, in heaven, having nothing of earth — shining not by its walls or its marbles, but by the unanimous and pious fervour of its members." ...
The Romish theologians quote the first part of this text, but carefully abstain from quoting the last; such, indeed, being their habit.
According to this Father, therefore, the Apostles acted by common consent; they chose together the candidates
