Drusilla

The Last Days of Pompeii, 1864.¹

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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. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:24-25).

 “While Felix was procurator of Judea, he saw this Drusilla; and fell in love with her: for she did indeed exceed all other women in beauty: and he sent… one of his friends… who endeavoured to persuade her to forsake her present husband, and marry [Felix]… Accordingly she acted ill; and because she was desirous to avoid her sister Bernice’s envy; for she was very ill treated by her on account of her beauty; was prevailed upon to transgress the laws of her fore¬fathers, and to marry Felix: and when he had had a son by her, he named him Agrippa” (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, xx.7.2).

As Drusilla looked on, what could she have thought as Claudius Felix, the ‎provincial governor of “Judea,” reduced to trembling and terror of “the judgment to come” ─ yet Paul, manacled and chained before him, exuberantly glorifying God?

She obviously had heard the gospel and, in all probability, much more, perhaps “on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city” when, at Festus' command Paul was brought forth (Acts 25:23) ─ and on the day to follow, of how the Lord reveled His self to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 26:12-18) ─ followed by her brother’s words: “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28).



James Hamilton (American, 1819-1878). The Last Days of Pompeii, 1864. Oil on canvas, 59 15/16 x 48 1/16 in. (152.2 x 122 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 55.138 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.55.138.jpg)

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