While Paul was in prison he was sent to Felix, the governor of Judea (which was the same government position Pontius Pilate held years before). A letter to Felix is transcribed in Acts 23:26-30. His dealings with Paul are spoken of in Acts 24-25. Josephus also mentions him many times and corroborates Luke’s note that he was married to a Jewess named Drusilla (Acts 24:24 and Antiquities 20.7.1-2).
Josephus (Antiquities 20.8.5) also agrees with Tacitus’ statement below that Judea was overrun with various seditions and outbreaks of violence. In fact, Felix was probably concerned that Paul may have been one of these rabble rousers and may have not released him just to cover his own hide in case Paul did foment rebellion. Tacitus mentions both Felix and Drusilla.
The Annals 12.54:
“Not equally moderate was his brother, surnamed Felix, who had for some time been governor of Judæa, and thought that he could do any evil act with impunity, backed up as he was by such power. It is true that the Jews had shown symptoms of commotion in a seditious outbreak, and when they had heard of the assassination of Caius [Caligula-ed], there was no hearty submission, as a fear still lingered that any of the emperors might impose the same orders. Felix meanwhile, by ill-timed remedies, stimulated disloyal acts; while he had, as a rival in the worst wickedness, Ventidius Cumanus, who held a part of the province, which was so divided that Galilea was governed by Cumanus, Samaria by Felix. The two peoples had long been at feud, and now less than ever restrained their enmity, from contempt of their rulers. And accordingly they plundered each other, letting loose bands of robbers, forming ambuscades, and occasionally fighting battles, and carrying the spoil and booty to the two procurators, who at first rejoiced at all this, but, as the mischief grew, they interposed with an armed force, which was cut to pieces. The flame of war would have spread through the province, but it was saved by Quadratus, governor of Syria. In dealing with the Jews, who had been daring enough to slay our soldiers, there was little hesitation about their being capitally punished. Some delay indeed was occasioned by Cumanus and Felix; for Claudius on hearing the causes of the rebellion had given authority for deciding also the case of these procurators. Quadratus, however, exhibited Felix as one of the judges, admitting him to the bench with the view of cowing the ardour of the prosecutors. And so Cumanus was condemned for the crimes which the two had committed, and tranquillity was restored to the province.”
The Histories 5.9
The kings were either dead, or reduced to insignificance, when Claudius entrusted the province of Judæa to the Roman Knights or to his own freedmen, one of whom, Antonius Felix, indulging in every kind of barbarity and lust, exercised the power of a king in the spirit of a slave. He had married Drusilla, the granddaughter of Antony and Cleopatra, and so was the grandson-in-law, as Claudius was the grandson, of Antony.
Here it appears that Tacitus is incorrect about Drusilla’s parents. Josephus very clearly states that she was Agrippa II’s sister and also the sister of Bernice (Antiquities 20.7.1-2) which of course means that she is likely not the granddaughter of Antony and Cleopatra. Whiston (the great english translator of Josephus) points out in his footnote on this passage that Felix had three wives, one of whom may very well have been the grandaughter of Antony and Cleopatra, and that Tacitus simply confused them. Interestingly, if this is true, Luke seems to have been correct in calling her a “jewess” while Tacitus is incorrect.