Crete

AI summary: Crete enters the New Testament both as a place of difficult travel and as a field of pastoral work. In Acts it forms part of the storm-filled sea journey toward Rome, with named harbors and decisions shaping the narrative. In Titus it becomes the setting for church ordering, character formation, and the challenge of teaching faithfully within a difficult local culture. The cross references present Crete as an island where the gospel took institutional root even amid the practical realities of travel, reputation, and community life.¹

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). Jews from Crete were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:11). The island was visited by Paul on his voyage to Rome (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. ³