Titus 1:5

Crete and Titus' Task

This young preacher was left by Paul on the island of Crete (Titus 1:5). Crete is the largest and southernmost of the Greek islands. At 3,200 square miles, it is about half the size of New Jersey. It is 160 miles from east to west. From north to south, the island is from 6 to 35 miles in width. The northern coast provides good natural harbor. Much of the southern coast has mountains rising up from the sea. At its center is Cape Lithinos, the most southerly point of Crete. Immediately east is the bay known as Fair Havens. Crete was annexed by Rome in 67 B. C. It was combined with Cyrene to form one province. Because of its geographic location, Crete was exposed to a wide variety of influences. The Greek islands were used almost like stepping stones for traffic moving from Asia Minor to Greece. There was a temple of Bacchus on this island famed for its wine. The people were known for drunkenness and trickery. The Cretans had a reputation for lying, as Paul makes clear in Titus 1:12.

Titus was left on the island with the specific mission of setting things right. Several problems are dealt with in the epistle that were likely on Paul's mind when he wrote these words. Clearly, Paul must have been on Crete with Titus at one time. Likely this occurred after he was released from his first Roman imprisonment. In addition to providing the things they were lacking, Titus was to appoint elders. These were to be in every city, among the hundreds in Crete, where the gospel had spread.

Jews from Crete were present on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:11). Some may have obeyed the gospel and taken the seed home when they returned. On his journey to Rome, Paul spent some time in Fair Havens. The text does not tell us whether he got to go ashore. Because the Fast was already past, we know it was the fall of the year. Paul advised them to winter there. The ship's owner and helmsman insisted they try to reach Phoenix, a harbor some fifty miles west of the bay. Luke details the tragic choice they made (Acts 27:1-44).