Crete: History and Bible references

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Create has a long history. It is the 88th largest island in the world and 5th largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.

In 2017 the population of Crete was about 600,000.

King Minus for which the Minoan Empire (2700 to 1420 BC) is named.
Minoan Empire was overrun be the Mycenaeans.
The Romans eventually took over Crete.
Titus established a church in Crete at the time of Paul.
Later part of the Greek/Roman Byzantine empire, later the Ottoman empire.

The mosaic of Hercules and the Cretan Bull is a famous mosaic.

The 7th labor of Hercules was the Cretan Bull. At that time, Crete was controlled by King Minos. It is thought that Spanish bull-fighting customs originated in Crete and from there went to the Iberian peninsula.

Paul wrote to Titus on Crete. Titus would have encountered this legend on that island.

In 1941, during World War II, Crete was the site of the largest airborne invasion.

The Labyrinth, «λαβύρινθος», in Crete,near Knossos, held the Minotaur.

The word itself appears to be pre-Greek, as are many place names in many places.

Minotaur as «μινώταυρος» is from "Minoan" or "Minos" and "bull" (Taurus or «ταύρος»).
The Athenian hero Theseus eventually killed the Minotaur.

Mycenaean Greek texts in Linear B.
Crete as «κρήτη» first appears in Homer's Odyssey.
In Latin, the name became Creta.

The Arabic name was Chandax which became, through Latin Candia and French Cadie became English Candy.
The western area of Chania retains part of that Arabic name.

1 Peter 2:20

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KJV: For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Greek: ποιον γαρ κλεος ει αμαρτανοντες και κολαφιζομενοι υπομενειτε αλλ ει αγαθοποιουντες και πασχοντες υπομενειτε τουτο χαρις παρα θεω

Job 28:22

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KJV: Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

Hebrew: אבדון ומות אמרו באזנינו שמענו שמעה׃

Greek: η απωλεια και ο θανατος ειπαν ακηκοαμεν δε αυτης το κλεος

Crete is mentioned 6 times in the GNT (Greek New Testament).

Acts 2:11

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KJV: Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Greek: κρητες και αραβες ακουομεν λαλουντων αυτων ταις ημετεραις γλωσσαις τα μεγαλεια του θεου

Latin: Iudaei quoque et proselyti Cretes et Arabes audivimus loquentes eos nostris linguis magnalia Dei

Slavonic: критяне и аравляне, слышим глаголющих их нашими языки величия Божия?

Acts 27:7

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KJV: And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;

Greek: εν ικαναις δε ημεραις βραδυπλοουντες και μολις γενομενοι κατα την κνιδον μη προσεωντος ημας του ανεμου υπεπλευσαμεν την κρητην κατα σαλμωνην

Acts 27:12

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KJV: And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

Greek: ανευθετου δε του λιμενος υπαρχοντος προς παραχειμασιαν οι πλειους πλειονες εθεντο βουλην αναχθηναι κακειθεν ειπως εκειθεν ει πως δυναιντο καταντησαντες εις φοινικα παραχειμασαι λιμενα της κρητης βλεποντα κατα λιβα και κατα χωρον

Acts 27:13

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KJV: And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

Greek: υποπνευσαντος δε νοτου δοξαντες της προθεσεως κεκρατηκεναι αραντες ασσον παρελεγοντο την κρητην

Acts 27:21

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KJV: But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

Greek: πολλης δε τε ασιτιας υπαρχουσης τοτε σταθεις ο παυλος εν μεσω αυτων ειπεν εδει μεν ω ανδρες πειθαρχησαντας μοι μη αναγεσθαι απο της κρητης κερδησαι τε την υβριν ταυτην και την ζημιαν

Titus 1:5

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KJV: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Greek: τουτου χαριν κατελιπον απελειπον σε εν κρητη ινα τα λειποντα επιδιορθωση και καταστησης κατα πολιν πρεσβυτερους ως εγω σοι διεταξαμην

Russian: Для того я оставил тебя в Крите, чтобы ты довершил недоконченное и поставил по всем городам пресвитеров, как я тебе приказывал: