Drusilla
Summary
The youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, celebrated for her beauty, who became the wife of the Roman governor Felix and heard Paul preach on righteousness and judgment.
☩Family Background
Drusilla was born around A.D. 38, the youngest of three daughters of Herod Agrippa I and Cypros. Her sisters were Bernice and Mariamne. She was only six years old when her father died suddenly in A.D. 44. Her brother Herod Agrippa II inherited their father's position. All ancient sources agree that Drusilla was extraordinarily beautiful—Josephus states she 'exceeded all other women in beauty.'
☩Marriages
Drusilla was first betrothed to Epiphanes, prince of Commagene, but he refused to become a Jew as the marriage required. Her brother then married her to Azizus, king of Emesa, who accepted circumcision. Shortly after, the Roman procurator Felix, captivated by her beauty, employed a Cyprian sorcerer named Simon to persuade her to leave Azizus. Drusilla, perhaps weary of her sister Bernice's jealousy and hoping Felix could better protect her, became his wife around A.D. 54.
☩Encounter with Paul
When Paul was detained at Caesarea, Drusilla accompanied Felix to hear him speak about 'faith in Christ Jesus.' As a Jewess, she would have understood Paul's message. But rather than tailoring his words to please these powerful hearers, Paul reasoned 'of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,' causing Felix to tremble. The message directly confronted their illicit relationship. Paul remained imprisoned partly to please Drusilla, who saw him as an enemy of her family's power.
☩Later Life
Drusilla bore Felix a son named Agrippa. According to Josephus, both Drusilla and her son perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 during the reign of Titus. Thus ended the life of one who heard the gospel from Paul's own lips but, like her husband, never responded to its call.
Related Verses1 mention
Acts· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Drusilla," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Drusilla," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Drusilla," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).