Galatians 2:11 (ASV)

Passage

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned.

Nearby Context

Galatians 2:9 and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;

Galatians 2:10 only [they would] that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.

Galatians 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned.

Galatians 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.

Galatians 2:13 And the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "condemn", "cephas", "came", "antioch", "resisted", "face", "stood", and "condemned". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "condemn" and "cephas", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "only they would that we should remember..." into verse 12's "For before that certain came from James...", so "condemn" and "cephas" belong inside that flow. In Galatians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "condemn" and "cephas" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.