Do we now say that the sheep must verify the shepherds?
Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. — They even double-checked Paul.
One of the threads throughout the New Testament is “Be sure you can discern the true Gospel.” If the sheep know the Shepherd’s voice, they will be able to avoid being led astray. This is especially important today when there are hundreds of varieties of Christian churches, some of which have great variations in doctrine.
Matt 7:22,23 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil-doers!’
The sheep are all of mankind under the great shepherd Christ. Priests are part of mankind. Apostolic succession is simply a manmade POLITICAL ruse to provide priests some perception of elitism.
Unless, of course, you think that God WANTED a hierarchical political structure for his church.
Then, to paraphrase Geo. Orwell, “Some priests are more equal than others.”