Jewish Princess, Wife of Governor Felix
Drusilla
droo-SIL-uh
A Jewish princess, youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, who left her first husband to marry the Roman governor Felix and was present when Paul spoke to Felix about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment.
Life and work
As the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, Drusilla was born into the Herodian dynasty's tangled web of political marriages. Acts records her simply as Felix's wife, described as Jewish, when Felix sent for Paul to hear him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became alarmed and cut the conversation short, telling Paul he would call for him again 'when I get an opportunity' (Acts 24:24-25).
That brief scene is all the New Testament says of her, but it captures something real about her situation: a young woman from a famous, scandal-prone family, married to a Roman governor, sitting in on a conversation about morality that visibly rattled her husband.
- Occupation
- Jewish princess; wife of the Roman governor Felix.
- Places
- Judea; associated with Caesarea, Felix's seat as governor.
Questions and debates
According to Josephus, Drusilla left her first husband, Azizus of Emesa, to marry Felix — a marriage widely regarded at the time as scandalous.
Extra-biblical evidence
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 20.7.1-2 (20.141-144) Josephus, Antiquities 20.7.1-2
Josephus independently records Drusilla's marriage to Felix, noting it was Felix's second marriage and that Drusilla abandoned her first husband, Azizus, king of Emesa, to marry him — a union Josephus frames as scandalous.
Weight: Strong independent corroboration. Josephus was a contemporary Jewish historian with detailed knowledge of the Herodian family, and his account lines up with and supplements the brief mention in Acts.
Scripture references
- Acts 24:24-25 — Present when Paul reasons with Felix about righteousness and judgment
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