2:11 Paul continues to present his relationship with the Jerusalem Christians to the Galatians. In the next verses he recounts an incident with Peter that occurred at Antioch. It is almost certain that the Galatians had already heard of this incident, for before describing it Paul declares the sides in the case (Paul opposed Peter to his face) and pronounces the verdict (Peter was in the wrong). But it seems that the Galatians have understood this incident from a different perspective—one in which Peter, not Paul, is the hero.

If later church tradition is correct regarding Peter as the first bishop of the church at Antioch, Paul’s presentation of the incident becomes all the more impressive. Paul claims that at Antioch he demonstrated that Peter—the most eminent Christian—was in the wrong…