It is likely that the Judaizers claimed that Paul refused to talk about the need for circumcision when he was initially with the Galatians because he wanted to gain their favour. They may have charged him with hypocrisy, referring to instances where Paul allowed for circumcision (Acts 16:3).1 Paul responds to this claim by saying that he would have avoided a lot of opposition and persecution from Jews and Jewish believers if he was indeed advocating for circumcision.2 However, he is not, and so he has not avoided their slander and animosity, a truth which he assumes is known by the Galatians.3
11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.