Episode Details

Immerse Day 13: The Story of Stephen, Philip, and Saul's Conversion

In today's Immerse daily Bible reading experience, we delve into Day 13, recounting the powerful story of Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, who faced persecution and martyrdom. We also follow the acts of Philip in Samaria, including the conversion and baptism of Simon the sorcerer, and the remarkable evangelism to an Ethiopian eunuch. The episode further chronicles the dramatic conversion of Saul, who later becomes Paul, following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Despite initial skepticism, Saul's transformation is accepted by the apostles, leading to his fervent preaching of the Gospel. This compelling narration emphasizes themes of faith, perseverance, and divine intervention in the early Christian church.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:03 Stephen's Ministry and Arrest
01:13 Stephen's Speech to the High Council
01:18 Israel's History Recap by Stephen
08:58 Stephen's Martyrdom
09:58 The Spread of the Gospel
10:30 Philip's Ministry in Samaria
10:55 Simon the Sorcerer
13:00 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
14:55 Saul's Conversion
17:39 Saul's Early Ministry
19:31 Conclusion and Farewell

Immerse contains the full text of the New Living Translation with brief introductions to each book. Nothing has been added or removed from the Bible text. Click here to look inside.

Welcome to Immerse: Messiah!

Messiah is the first of six volumes in Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience. Messiah takes the reader on a unique journey through every book of the New Testament. Each section of Messiah begins with one of the Gospels, and together they combine to provide a life-changing reading experience centered on Jesus.

This fresh arrangement of the books highlights the depth of the New Testament’s fourfold witness to Jesus the Messiah. The Son of God, who fulfills all the longings and promises of the collected Scriptures, can be experienced in Messiah through the rich variety of lenses provided by the books of the new covenant.

QUICK START GUIDE - Download from the One Million More Bibles initiative at https://onemillionmore.bible/one-million-more-resources/
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Messiah instead of your regular chapter-and-verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together for 8 weeks—more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open, honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Poets, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

4 Questions to get your conversations started:

1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

The Immerse Bible Series is the proud winner of th