Crete

Crete is the large island in the Mediterranean south of the Aegean Sea. Cretans were among the crowd in Jerusalem at Pentecost who heard the apostles speaking “the mighty works of God” in their own languages (Acts 2:11).

On Paul's voyage to Rome the ship “sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone” (Acts 27:7) and came to Fair Havens, near Lasea (Acts 27:8). Paul warned that the voyage would be “with injury and much loss” (Acts 27:10), but the majority hoped to reach Phoenix, “a port of Crete,” and winter there (Acts 27:12). They “sailed along Crete, close to shore” (Acts 27:13) until the stormy wind called Euroclydon drove the ship along (Acts 27:14–15). In the storm Paul told them, “Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete” (Acts 27:21); the ship was later wrecked on Malta (Acts 28:1).

Paul wrote to Titus, “I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city” (Titus 1:5). He quoted one of their own prophets, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons,” and added, “This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:12–13).

Crete is usually identified with Caphtor, from which God brought the Philistines (Amos 9:7); see Caphtor.