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.

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.