Dictionary Summary: Now called Candia, one of the largest islands in the Meditterranean, about 140 miles long and 35 broad. It was at one time a very prosperous and populous island, having a “hundred cities.” The character of the people is described in Paul’s quotation from “one of their own poets” (Epimenides) in his epistle to Titus: “The Cretans are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies” ([Titus 1:12](/titus#Titus.1.12)). Jews from Crete were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost ([Acts 2:11](/acts#Acts.2.11)). The island was visited by Paul on his voyage to Rome ([Acts 27](/acts#Acts.27)). Here Paul subsequently left Titus (1:5) “to ordain elders.” Some have supposed that it was the original home of the Caphtorim (q.v.) or Philistines. ²