Category:Crete

Crete (krt), n. Etym: [L. Cres, Cretis.]

Defn: A Cretan

- ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Crete - (previously called Candia) one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, 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 (Titus 1:5) "to ordain elders." Some have supposed that it was the original home of the Caphtorim (q.v.) or Philistines.