Charles Spurgeon Commentary Titus 1:12

"One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons." — Titus 1:12 (ASV)

Said, The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

They were a degraded people; and hence, those who would teach them had a most difficult task, and needed great grace. Paul exhorts Titus that only specially fit men, men whose example would have influence, and whose characters would have weight, should be allowed to be elders in such churches.