Drusilla
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Drusilla in the Bible?
Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and Bernice, and the third wife of the Roman procurator Antonius Felix. She left her first husband, King Azizus of Emesa, to marry Felix, an event recorded by the historian Josephus. During Felix's tenure as procurator in Caesarea, Drusilla and her husband heard the Apostle Paul discuss righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, though she did not convert to Christianity.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Drusilla's background as a Herodian princess married to a Roman official provides essential historical context for the narrative in Acts 24, illustrating the political and social dynamics of the first-century Judean elite and the specific circumstances under which Paul presented his defense before the Roman administration.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.