Drusilla is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, and she was married to Felix, the Roman governor of Judea. She is mentioned in the Book of Acts, where she and Felix hear the Apostle Paul speak about faith in Christ. Drusilla was known for her beauty, and her marriage to Felix was controversial, as she had left her first husband to marry him.
Drusilla appears in Acts 24:24, in a scene set during Paul’s imprisonment in Caesarea. After certain days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. In this setting, Drusilla is present while Paul speaks about faith in Christ before the governor and his wife.
Scripture says of her only that she was Felix’s wife, that she was a Jewess, and that she was present when Paul was summoned to speak. The text records no words from her and no response from her to Paul’s message. Her appearance in the biblical account is brief, noted in a single verse.
The Name
The name Drusilla is a Latin name, a diminutive form related to the name Drusus. It is not a Hebrew or Greek name, and its meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text. Because the name is Latin in origin and the Scriptures do not explain or translate it, no meaning should be assigned to it beyond what is historically attested. It is enough to say that the name is not given a meaning in the Bible, and any significance drawn from it would go beyond what the text states.
A Closing Thought
Drusilla stood within reach of the gospel. She sat beside her husband while Paul reasoned about faith in Christ, yet the account leaves her silent and unmoved. Her story is a quiet warning that proximity to truth is not the same as surrender to it. Hearing about Christ is a privilege, but the moment of hearing is also a moment of decision. May we not be like those who listen and walk away unchanged, but rather receive the word with hearts open to the Lord.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: New
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Acts 24:24 — 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.