For thisreasonI leftyou in Crete,that you would set in orderwhat remainsand appointeldersin everycityas I directedyou,
They ministeredwith songbeforethe tabernacleof the tentof meeting,untilSolomonhad builtthe houseof the LORDin Jerusalem;and they servedin their officeaccordingto their order.
In additionto beinga wiseman,the Preacheralsotaughtthe peopleknowledge;and he pondered,searchedout and arrangedmanyproverbs.
Whois likeMe? Let him proclaimand declareit; Yes, let him recountit to Me in order,From the time that I establishedthe ancientnation.And let them declareto them the thingsthat are comingAnd the events that are going to takeplace.
"Then they shall takeotherstonesand replace[those] stones,and he shall takeotherplasterand replasterthe house.
And thisthey did,sendingit in chargeof Barnabasand Saulto the elders.
When they had appointedeldersfor them in everychurch,having prayedwith fasting,they commendedthem to the Lordin whomthey had believed.
Cretansand Arabs--we hearthem in our [own] tonguesspeakingof the mighty deedsof God."
Because the harborwas not suitablefor wintering,the majorityreacheda decisionto put out to seafrom there,ifsomehowthey couldreachPhoenix,a harborof Crete,facingsouthwestand northwest,and spend the winter[there].
When a moderatesouth windcameup, supposingthat they had attainedtheir purpose,they weighed anchorand [began] sailing alongCrete,close[inshore].
When they had gonea longtime without food,thenPaulstoodup in their midstand said,"Men,you oughtto have followed my adviceand not to have set sailfrom Creteand incurredthisdamageand loss.
When we had sailed slowlyfor a good manydays,and with difficultyhad arrivedoffCnidus,since the winddid not permit us [to go] farther,we sailed under the shelterof Crete,offSalmone;
Ifanyoneis hungry,let him eatat home,sothat you will not come togetherfor judgment.The remainingmatters I will arrangewhenI come.
But all thingsmust be doneproperlyand in an orderly manner.
For thisreasonI have sentto you Timothy,whois my belovedand faithfulchildin the Lord,and he will remindyou of my wayswhich are in Christ,justas I teacheverywherein everychurch.
For eventhoughI am absentin body,neverthelessI amwith you in spirit,rejoicingto seeyour good disciplineand the stabilityof your faithin Christ.
As I urgedyou upon my departurefor Macedonia,remainon at Ephesussothat you may instructcertain mennot to teach strange doctrines,
The things whichyou have heardfrom me in the presenceof manywitnesses,entrusttheseto faithfulmenwhowill be ableto teachothersalso.
Oneof themselves,a prophetof their own,said,"Cretansare alwaysliars,evilbeasts,lazygluttons."
