Galatians 2:11
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“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.”
Why was Peter “to be blamed” by Paul? What had he done?
It is interesting as a side note that Peter, with whatever was the wrong attitude that he demonstrated, was not a very good “Pope.” (Remember, Catholics teach that he was the first Pope—Matthew 16:18 explanation—and no one among the Catholic hierarchy would dare blame the Pope publicly for anything.)
In Galatia, certain Jews wanted to see the Mosaic “book of the law” taught in this region inhabited largely by Gentiles. The Jews thought that keeping this law made them more righteous than the Gentiles (see Gal. 2:4 explanation).
This contention polarized and split these two groups! This was so serious that some of the apostles had become polarized into one “camp” or the other—rather than combating the problem. Mt 16:12-13 show that Peter (a Jew) and Barnabas sided with the Jews (Mt 16:14), but Paul, apostle to the Gentiles, saw this and rebuked Peter openly (Mt 16:14-21)! Mt 16:12 shows that certain Jewish converts of James appeared on the scene while Peter was sitting with Gentiles. Seeing them, Peter removed himself from the Gentiles for fear of what the Jews (the “circumcision”) might think.
James 16:13 shows that Peter actually was part of causing the division to grow worse, until Paul asked (paraphrasing James 16:14), “How can you who have the liberty the Gentiles have, being a Jew yourself, turn around and tell Gentiles they should give up their liberty (from the Mosaic law) and live like the Jews (who keep it)?” This explains what was really the hypocrisy that Paul was addressing.
No suggested reading.