Woman living at the time of the New Testament
Drusilla, the Jewish wife of Felix, the Roman governor, was present when Paul spoke to Felix about faith in Christ.
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Drusilla is mentioned in Act.24.24 as the wife of Felix, the Roman governor of Judea. She was present when Felix summoned Paul to hear him speak about his faith in Christ.
Drusilla was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, who was the grandson of Herod the Great and the king of Judea from 41 to 44 AD. She was born around 38 AD and was known for her beauty and her tumultuous personal life.
According to the Jewish historian Josephus, Drusilla was originally married to Azizus, the king of Emesa, who had agreed to be circumcised in order to marry her. However, Felix, who was captivated by her beauty, persuaded her to leave her husband and marry him instead. This was seen as a scandalous act, as it violated Jewish law and custom.
When Paul spoke to Felix and Drusilla about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and sent Paul away, saying he would summon him again when it was convenient (Act.24.25). This suggests that Paul's message had a profound impact on Felix.
Part of: Paul's Circle · The Herods
Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and heard Paul speak of faith in Christ. When Paul discussed righteousness, self-control, and judgment, Felix grew afraid and sent him away. Felix also hoped for a bribe.
Sources: Scripture
Josephus says Agrippa I was the father of Agrippa II, Bernice, and Drusilla. The NT names Agrippa, Bernice, and Drusilla in Acts 24-26 without spelling out that they are siblings.
Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Acts says Drusilla was Jewish. Josephus says she was a sister of Agrippa II who left her first husband for Felix. So Paul spoke before Felix, Drusilla, and then two years later her brother.
Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
More background: search Wikipedia ↗
Third and youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I. (Acts 12:1-4, 20-23). Felix, the Roman procurator of Judea, induced her to leave her husband, Azizus, the king of Emesa, and become his wife. She was present with Felix when Paul reasoned of “righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come” (Acts 24:24). She and her son perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, A.D. 79.
(watered by the dew), daughter of herod Agrippa *., (Acts 24:24) ff., and Cypros. Born A.D. 38. She was at first betrothed to Antiochus Epiphanes, prince of Commagene, but was married to Azizus, king of Emesa. Soon after, Felix, procurator of Judea, brought about her seduction by means of the Cyprian sorcerer Simon, and took her as his wife. In (Acts 24:24) we find her in company with Felix at Caesarea. Felix who, together with his mother, perished in the eruption of Vesuvius under Titus.
DRUSIL'LA, third daughter of the Herod who is mentioned in Acts 12:14, Acts 12:20-23. She first married Azizus, king of Emesa, who professed Judaism for her sake. But by means of a sorcerer, Simon of Cyprus, she was induced to forsake her husband and marry Felix, the Roman governor, and was present at the hearing of the apostle Paul before her husband at Cassarea. She was noted for great personal beauty. Acts 24:24.
DRUSIL'LA, third daughter of the Herod who is mentioned in Acts 12:14, Acts 12:20-23. She first married Azizus, king of Emesa, who professed Judaism for her sake. But by means of a sorcerer, Simon of Cyprus, she was induced to forsake her husband and marry Felix, the Roman governor, and was present at the hearing of the apostle Paul before her husband at Cassarea. She was noted for great personal beauty. Acts 24:24.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
1 verse in 1 book · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G1409
After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.