Final answer:
Peter supported the disciples by providing leadership and guiding their work, not by legislation or persecution of dissenters. Legal protection for Christians came under later emperors, well after Peter's time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Peter supported the disciples in their missionary work primarily by providing them leadership and directing their activities as implied by the concept of Petrine Succession. While Peter did face martyrdom under Emperor Nero, the claim that he made it illegal to persecute Christians in Rome is historically inaccurate, as this was achieved by later emperors such as Constantine.
The growth and organization of the early Christian church, including its hierarchy and the role of bishops in Roman governance, contributed significantly to the spread and establishment of the church, despite periods of severe persecution.
It is crucial to note that the different forms of persecution Christians faced, such as the Great Persecution by Emperor Diocletian, ended before Peter could have exercised such legal power. The ascendance of Christianity and its eventual embrace by Roman leaders marked a profound shift in its fortunes. Emperors like Constantine built churches and recognized Christianity, a transition far beyond Peter's influence.