CRETE
Crete is a large island almost halfway between Syria and Malta, and southeast of Greece. It is identified with the Caphtor of the OT, where the Philistines came from (Jer. 47:4; Am. 9:7). (See CAPHTOR, PHILISTINES).
The Romans conquered Crete between 68 and 66 BC. Many Jews settled there (Acts 2:11; cp. 1 Mac. 15:19-23, Gortyn was in Crete).
Christianity was introduced early in it. Titus remained in Crete, charged by Paul with putting things in order and neutralizing the teachings of the Judaizers (Tit. 1:5, 10, 14).
The Cretans were famous archers, but their vices made them proverbially famous, as Paul says, quoting Epimenides: “The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, gluttons, idlers” (Tit. 1:12).