Drusilla was a notable figure in the New Testament, known primarily for her connection to the Apostle Paul during his imprisonment. She was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and the sister of Herod Agrippa II, making her a member of the Herodian dynasty, which played a significant role in the political and religious landscape of Judea during the first century.

Family Background and Early Life

Drusilla was born into the Herodian family, a dynasty with a complex and often tumultuous history. Her father, Herod Agrippa I, was a king of Judea who is mentioned in the Book of Acts for his persecution of the early church. Her familial connections placed her in a position of influence and power, but also in the midst of political intrigue and religious tension.

Marriage to Felix

Drusilla's most significant biblical mention comes in the context of her marriage to Antonius Felix, the Roman procurator of Judea. Felix, known for his harsh and corrupt rule, was Drusilla's second husband. According to historical sources, Felix was captivated by Drusilla's beauty and persuaded her to leave her first husband, Azizus, the king of Emesa, to marry him. This marriage is indicative of the political alliances and personal ambitions that characterized the Herodian family.

Encounter with the Apostle Paul

Drusilla's encounter with the Apostle Paul is recorded in the Book of Acts. During Paul's imprisonment in Caesarea, he was brought before Felix and Drusilla. Acts 24:24-25 states, "Several days later, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, 'Go away for now. When I find time, I will call for you.'"

This passage highlights Drusilla's Jewish heritage and her exposure to the message of the Gospel through Paul's testimony. Despite her privileged position, Drusilla, along with Felix, was confronted with the call to righteousness and the impending judgment, themes central to Paul's preaching.

Historical and Theological Significance

Drusilla's presence in the biblical narrative serves as a reminder of the intersection between political power and religious truth. Her life, marked by personal ambition and political maneuvering, contrasts with the message of repentance and faith proclaimed by Paul. Her account is a testament to the reach of the Gospel, even into the highest echelons of society, and the varied responses it elicited.

Drusilla's legacy is also a reflection of the broader Herodian influence on the early Christian movement. Her family's interactions with key figures in the New Testament underscore the complex relationship between the Jewish authorities, the Roman government, and the nascent Christian church.Drusilla

watered by the dew

Drusilla

(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.

Drusilla

The youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, and sister of the younger Agrippa and Bernice, celebrated for her beauty and infamous for her licentiousness. She was first espoused to Epiphanes, son of Antiochus king of Comagena, on condition of his embracing the Jewish religion; but as he afterwards refused to be circumcised, Drusilla was given in marriage by her brother to Azizus king of Emessa. When Felix came as governor of Judea, he persuaded her to abandon her husband and her religion, and become his wife. Paul bore testimony before them to the truth of the Christian religion, Acts 24:24. She and her son afterwards perished in an eruption of Vesuvius.

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. DRUSILLA

droo-sil'-a (Drousilla, or Drousilla): Wife of Felix, a Jewess, who along with her husband "heard (Paul) concerning the faith in Christ Jesus" during Paul's detention in Caesarea (Acts 24:24).

Beta text gives the rendering "Drusilla the wife of Felix, a Jewess, asked to see Paul and to hear the word." The fact that Drusilla was a Jewess explains her curiosity, but Paul, who was probably acquainted with the past history of her and Felix, refused to satisfy their request in the way they desired, and preached to them instead concerning righteousness and self-restraint and the final judgment. At this "Felix was terrified" (Acts 24:25). Beta text states that Paul's being left in bonds on the retirement of Felix was due to the desire of the latter to please Drusilla (compare Acts 24:27). Probably this explanation, besides that of the accepted text, was true also, as Drusilla, who was a member of the ruling house, saw in Paul an enemy of its power, and hated him for his condemnation of her own private sins.

The chief other source of information regarding Drusilla is Josephus. Drusilla was the youngest of the three daughters of Agrippa I, her sisters being Bernice and Mariamne. She was born about 36 A.D. and was married when 14 years old to Azizus, king of Emeza. Shortly afterward she was induced to desert her husband by Felix, who employed a Cyprian sorcerer, Simon by name, to carry out his purpose. She was also influenced to take this step by the cruelty of Azizus and the hatred of Bernice who was jealous of her beauty. Her marriage with Felix took place about 54 A.D. and by him she had one son, Agrippa, who perished under Titus in an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The mention by Josephus of "the woman" who perished along with Agrippa (Ant., XX, vii, 2) refers probably not to his mother Drusilla but to his wife.

C. M. Kerr

1409. Drousilla -- Drusilla, a member of the Herodian family
... Drusilla, a member of the Herodian family. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Drousilla Phonetic Spelling: (droo'-sil-lah) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1409.htm - 6k

Saurin -- Paul Before Felix and Drusilla
... SAURIN " PAUL BEFORE FELIX AND DRUSILLA. PAUL BEFORE FELIX AND DRUSILLA BIOGRAPHICAL
NOTE. ... SAURIN. 1677"1730. PAUL BEFORE FELIX AND DRUSILLA. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/saurin paul before felix.htm

What Things were done after the Death of Agrippa; and How Claudius ...
... three daughters; one of which, Bernice, was married to Herod, his father's brother,
and was sixteen years old; the other two, Mariamne and Drusilla, were still ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 what things were.htm

Felix is Made Procurator of Judea; as Also Concerning Agrippa ...
... And when Agrippa had received these countries as the gift of Caesar, he gave his
sister Drusilla in marriage to Azizus, king of Emesa, upon his consent to be ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 felix is made.htm

Acts XXIV
... [544]. 24. "Now, after some days, Felix came, with his wife Drusilla, who was a
Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxiv.htm

The Trial at Caesarea
... It was not long after this that Felix and his wife, Drusilla, sent for Paul in order
that in a private interview they might hear from him "concerning the faith ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 39 the trial at.htm

Paul's Sermon Before Felix
... We have before us a picture containing three characters: Felix and Drusilla, sitting
side by side upon the judgment-seat; Paul, the prisoner, brought in bound ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/pauls sermon before felix.htm

One Argument which Has Been Much Relied Upon but not More than Its ...
... VI. [p.41.] Acts 24:24. "And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla,
which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul.". Joseph. Antiq. lib. xx. ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter vi one argument which.htm

Paul Before Felix
... And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess,
he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.25. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/paul before felix.htm

Book 20 Footnotes
... the very same. As to that Drusilla, the sister of Agrippa, junior, as Josephus
informs us here, and a Jewess, as St. Luke informs ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 20 footnotes.htm

Felix Before Paul
... He had tempted from her husband, Drusilla, the daughter of that Herod whose dreadful
death is familiar to us all; and his court reeked with blood and debauchery ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/felix before paul.htm

Drusilla (1 Occurrence)
... 24:24). She and her son perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, AD 79.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DRUSILLA. droo-sil'-a ...
/d/drusilla.htm - 9k

Felix (11 Occurrences)
... xx. 8, 9.). Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa, having been induced by Felix
to desert her husband, the king of Emesa, became his adulterous companion. ...
/f/felix.htm - 15k

Antonius
... He therefore treated his prisoner at first with leniency, and pretended
along with Drusilla to take interest in his teaching. But ...
/a/antonius.htm - 10k

Jewess (3 Occurrences)
... A woman of Hebrew birth, as Eunice, the mother of Timothy (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy
1:5), and Drusilla (Acts 24:24), wife of Felix, and daughter of Herod Agrippa I ...
/j/jewess.htm - 9k

Drusil'la (1 Occurrence)
Drusil'la. Drusilla, Drusil'la. Dry . Multi-Version Concordance Drusil'la
(1 Occurrence). ... Drusilla, Drusil'la. Dry . Reference Bible.
/d/drusil'la.htm - 6k

Drunkennesses (2 Occurrences)

/d/drunkennesses.htm - 7k

Agrippa (12 Occurrences)
... (Comp. Josephus, Ant. xix. 8.). Agrippa II. Son of the foregoing, was born
at Rome, AD 27. He was the brother of Bernice and Drusilla. ...
/a/agrippa.htm - 11k

Listened (120 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:24 Not long after this, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and
sending for Paul, listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. ...
/l/listened.htm - 36k

Sending (188 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:24 Not long after this, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and
sending for Paul, listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. ...
/s/sending.htm - 37k

Later (89 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:24 But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess,
and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. ...
/l/later.htm - 31k

Who is Drusilla in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who is Felix in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who are the various Herods mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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