The Bible AS History

Drusilla, the youngest of three daughters born to Herod Agrippa I around 38 CE, had notable siblings including Agrippa II, Bernice, and Mariamne III. Her mother was Cypros. Her engagement to Epiphanes of Commagene was arranged before she turned six, but it fell through when Epiphanes refused to convert to Judaism. At 14, she married Azizus of Emesa, a Syrian king who agreed to be circumcised to meet her family’s religious requirements. However, Drusilla’s marriage to Azizus was short-lived due to his harsh behavior and her jealousy towards her sister Bernice, which led her to unlawfully divorce him according to Jewish tradition. She then married Governor Felix around 54 CE.

The Apostle Paul Before Felix and his wife Drusilla

Paul’s Defense and the Power of Persuasion: Acts 24:24

Acts 24:24 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
24 After some days, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts 24:24 provides a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of early Christian proclamation, Roman political power, and Jewish identity within the broader context of the first-century Mediterranean world. This verse situates itself within the narrative of Paul’s imprisonment and his defense before Roman authorities, offering insights into several key themes and figures.

Contextual Background

Paul has been arrested and is being held in Caesarea, facing accusations from Jewish leaders. Felix, the Roman procurator of Judea, holds significant power over Paul’s fate. Felix is known historically for his political cunning and sometimes brutal administration. His marriage to Drusilla adds a layer of complexity, given her Jewish heritage and royal lineage. This marriage is Felix’s third and Drusilla’s second, with both figures demonstrating a willingness to cross traditional boundaries for personal or political gain.

Commentary on Acts 24:24

Felix and Drusilla’s Arrival: Felix, with his wife Drusilla, makes a deliberate choice to hear Paul speak. Their arrival together signifies both a political and personal interest in Paul’s message. Drusilla’s presence is particularly noteworthy; as a Jewish woman married to a Roman official, her identity embodies the intersection of Jewish and Greco-Roman worlds.
Drusilla’s Jewish Identity: The text emphasizes Drusilla’s Jewishness, which might suggest her potential interest in religious discussions, including those about the Jewish Messiah. Given her background, Drusilla likely had some understanding of Jewish expectations for the Messiah and might have been curious about Paul’s message that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled these expectations.
Hearing Paul Speak about Faith in Christ Jesus: Felix and Drusilla’s decision to listen to Paul indicates an openness, at least momentarily, to engage with the ideas of the nascent Christian movement. Paul’s discourse on faith in Christ would have contrasted sharply with traditional Jewish beliefs and certainly with Roman religious pluralism. Paul’s message centered on Jesus as the promised Messiah, the resurrected Lord, and the savior not only of the Jews but of all humanity.

Implications and Themes

Intersecting Worlds: This verse illustrates the complex interplay of politics, religion, and personal relationships in the ancient world. Felix and Drusilla represent the Roman and Jewish spheres, respectively, while Paul stands as a representative of the early Christian community. This encounter underscores the diverse audiences early Christianity reached and the varied reactions it elicited.
Faith and Power Dynamics: The power dynamics at play are stark. Felix, as procurator, wields significant power, including over Paul’s life. Yet, in this moment, Paul is given a platform to speak about his faith. This scenario highlights early Christianity’s ability to transcend social and political boundaries, engaging individuals from different walks of life with its transformative message.
The Role of Women in Early Christian Narratives: Drusilla’s presence in this narrative, while seemingly peripheral, reflects the nuanced roles women played in the early Christian story. Her background and decisions might reflect broader themes of agency, identity, and the complexities of navigating faith within the Roman Empire.

Acts 24:24 captures a moment where diverse threads of the ancient world converge around Paul’s proclamation of faith in Christ. The verse invites readers to consider the rich tapestry of early Christian evangelism, the complexities of identity and power in the Roman Empire, and the universal appeal of the message of Jesus Christ. Felix and Drusilla’s engagement with Paul, though brief, offers a window into the broader dialogue between Christianity and the surrounding culture during its formative years.

Drusilla was present during a significant moment when the prisoner Paul discussed topics like righteousness, self-control, and the impending judgment, topics that deeply unsettled Governor Felix. After Felix’s tenure as governor ended and he was succeeded by Festus, he left Paul imprisoned, possibly to curry favor with the Jewish community, reflecting possibly on the influence of Drusilla, who was Jewish. The son she had with Felix, also named Agrippa, tragically died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.

Depicted on this coin is Drusilla’s brother Herod Agrippa I.

Biblical Archaeology

Drusilla depicted on this coin is Drusilla’s brother Herod Agrippa I.

Drusilla, born around 38 C.E., was not only the younger sister to Bernice and Agrippa II but also held the distinguished lineage of being the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, granddaughter of Aristobulus, and great-granddaughter of Herod the Great, as chronicled by Josephus in “Jewish War 2.220”. Following the death of her father, her brother, Agrippa II, secured her marriage to Azizus, the king of Emesa. This marriage, however, was short-lived. Upon encountering the Roman procurator Felix, Drusilla divorced Azizus to marry Felix, who was a Roman and not of Jewish faith. Josephus narrates the series of events leading to this marriage, highlighting Felix’s infatuation with Drusilla’s unmatched beauty and her desire to flee from the hostility of her sister Berenice, who envied her attractiveness. As a result, Drusilla chose to marry Felix, defying her traditional Jewish laws (Jewish Antiquities 20.141–143).

Josephus further documents that Drusilla and Felix had a son named Agrippa, whose fate alongside his wife during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius under the reign of Titus Caesar would be detailed later (Jewish Antiquities 20.144). The untimely demise of her son in 79 C.E. raises speculation about Drusilla’s own fate during this disaster, though no direct evidence confirms her death then. Josephus recounts the story:

Not long afterwards Drusilla’s marriage to Azizus was dissolved under the impact of the following circumstances. At the time when Felix was procurator of Judaea, he beheld her; and, inasmuch as she surpassed all other women in beauty, he conceived a passion for the lady.… Felix promised to make her supremely happy if she did not disdain him. She, being unhappy and wishing to escape the malice of her sister Berenice—for Drusilla was exceedingly abused by her because of her beauty—was persuaded to transgress the ancestral laws and to marry Felix. (Jewish Antiquities 20.141–143) By him she [Drusilla] gave birth to a son whom she named Agrippa. How this youth and his wife disappeared at the time of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the times of Titus Caesar, I shall describe later. (Jewish Antiquities 20.144)

The Roman historian Suetonius sheds light on Felix’s background, identifying him as a freedman elevated by Emperor Claudius, who notably married three queens, with Drusilla being one of them as mentioned in “The Twelve Caesars 28.”

Despite Drusilla’s relatively minor role in the biblical narrative, where she is mentioned briefly, the detailed accounts by Josephus and references by Suetonius enrich our understanding of her life, her marriages, and her eventual tragic link to the historic disaster of Mount Vesuvius. This intersection of biblical and historical texts highlights Drusilla’s significance in the broader tapestry of the era’s history.

Secular History

Born in the year 38 Common Era (C.E.), Julia Drusilla was the progeny of Herod Agrippa, the esteemed King of Judaea, and his wife, Cypros. She was sister to Berenice, Mariamne, and Herod Agrippa II, maintaining a significant familial legacy within her historical context. Notably, her offspring, Agrippa, holds a unique distinction: he is one of the rare individuals whose identity is known to have perished during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E.

Drusilla, Jewish Wife of Felix and Sister of Herod Agrippa I

Her First Marriage to Gaius Julius Archelaus Antiochus Epiphanes

Drusilla medallion from Promptuarium Iconum Insigniorum (1553)

Drusilla’s initial matrimonial alliance was with Gaius Julius Archelaus Antiochus Epiphanes, the eldest son of King Antiochus IV of Commagene. This union was emblematic of the complex political and familial alliances that characterized the era. Marrying the offspring of a Hellenistic monarch reflected not just a personal connection but a strategic alignment between powerful families. However, this marriage did not endure, primarily due to religious and cultural disparities. Epiphanes’ reluctance to convert to Judaism, a condition set by Drusilla’s family to solidify the marriage, led to the dissolution of their union. This decision underscores the importance of religious identity in the period, serving as a decisive factor in the maintenance or dissolution of marital alliances.

Her Marriage to Antonius Felix

Subsequent to her separation from Epiphanes, Drusilla entered into matrimony with Antonius Felix, a Roman procurator of Judaea. This marriage is historically significant for several reasons. Firstly, it highlights the intricate relationships between Jewish royalty and Roman governance. Felix, though a Roman official, sought to consolidate his position and influence through marriage to Drusilla, who brought with her a prestigious lineage and connections to the Jewish aristocracy. Secondly, this marriage exemplifies the personal and political manoeuvres prevalent among the ruling elites of the time, where marriages were often less about personal affinity and more about strategic advantage.

When She Appeared at Felix’s Side During the Apostle Paul’s Captivity at Caesarea

Drusilla’s presence alongside Felix during the Apostle Paul’s captivity at Caesarea is a moment of historical and religious significance. This event provides a rare glimpse into the lives of the ruling class in Judaea under Roman administration and their interactions with the early Christian community. Drusilla’s attendance at Paul’s hearing, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 24:24), illustrates the interconnectedness of political, religious, and personal narratives in the ancient world. It signifies the role of Drusilla and Felix not merely as observers but as influential figures within the socio-political and religious landscape of the time.

In Josephus’ “Jewish Antiquities,” book 20, chapter 7, section 2, the passage in Greek translates to:

“However, not much later, Drusilla’s marriage to Azizus was dissolved for the following reason: During the time Felix was procurator of Judea, upon seeing her, for she surpassed all other women in beauty, he developed a desire for her. He sent a man named Atomus, one of his friends who was a Jew of Cypriot nationality and suspected of being a magician, to persuade her to leave her husband and marry him, promising to make her supremely happy if she would not disdain him. She, being in an unhappy situation and wanting to escape the jealousy from her sister Berenice, which she thought was significantly harming her because of her beauty, was persuaded to transgress the ancestral laws and marry Felix. From him, she bore a child whom she named Agrippa. But how this young man and his wife vanished during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the times of Titus Caesar, I shall describe later.”

Herodian Family Tree—Biblical Archaeology Society

Through her marriages and public appearances, Drusilla navigated the complexities of her era’s political, religious, and social dynamics. Her life reflects the broader themes of power, identity, and influence that defined the relationships between Jewish royalty and Roman authority.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is the CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored more than 220 books and is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).