Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
PHEN'ICE, or PHENI'CE. Another and more accurate form for Phoenicia. Acts 11:19; Acts 15:3. See Phoenicia. A town and harbor, more properly Phoenix (from the Greek word for the palm tree, which was indigenous to Crete). The town was on the south-west coast of the island of Crete. It had a safe winter harbor, into which the captain of the ship upon which Paul was a prisoner attempted to sail after leaving Fair Havens. He was caught in the storm, however, and his ship was wrecked on the island of Melita. Acts 27:8, Jud 4:12.
Phoenix or Phenice has been identified with the harbor of Lutro, about 35 miles west-north-west from Cape Matala. It has lately been shown that this place has an admirable harbor with a good depth of water, and sheltered from the winter winds.