Crete
Summary
A large Mediterranean island, also called Candia, known in antiquity for its hundred cities and famous for the legendary lawgiver Minos. Paul's ship passed Crete during his voyage to Rome, and he later left Titus there to organize the churches.
☩Geography and History
Crete is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, stretching 160 miles long but varying from 6 to 35 miles wide. It lies at the entrance of the Aegean, forming a bridge between Greece and Asia Minor. The island was extremely mountainous, with Mt. Ida as its famous peak, yet possessed very fruitful valleys. In antiquity it was called 'the isle of the hundred cities' and was ruled by the legendary King Minos, whose laws influenced all of Greece.
☩Character of the Cretans
The Cretans had an unfavorable reputation in antiquity—'to Cretanize' was proverbial for lying. Paul quoted Epimenides, 'one of their own prophets': 'The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies' (Titus 1:12). This testimony Paul affirms as true, instructing Titus to 'rebuke them sharply' that they might be sound in the faith. Despite this characterization, Christianity won triumphs for truth even in such unpromising soil.
☩Paul's Voyage Along Crete
During Paul's voyage to Rome as a prisoner, his ship was forced by contrary winds to sail under the lee of Crete, first making the promontory of Salmone on the eastern side (Acts 27:7). They reached Fair Havens, near Lasea, where they spent considerable time. Against Paul's advice, they attempted to reach Phoenix, a better harbor for wintering, but were caught by the fierce Euroclydon wind and driven out to sea toward Malta.
☩The Church in Crete
Jews had settled in Crete in considerable numbers, and Cretans were among those present at Pentecost (Acts 2:11). Paul visited Crete between his first and second Roman imprisonments and left Titus there to 'set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city' (Titus 1:5). The epistle to Titus addresses the challenges of establishing sound church order among converts from such a difficult background.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Crete," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Crete," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Crete," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).