There was great sadness regarding Stephen's death and he was buried.
Saul was one of the witnesses at Stephen's stoning and was in complete agreement of the action taking by the religious leaders. The very day Stephen was stoned a great wave of persecution against all Christ followers and the church in Jerusalem began. All the believers except the apostles ran and were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. The apostles remained in Jerusalem. Saul became one of the most fervent persecutors of the believers going house to house dragging men and women believers from their homes and putting them in prison.
To me, there are so many times bad things seem to be happening but they have great good in them. Here the church and believers are persecuted but as they scatter, they took the good news of Jesus Christ with them so many people who may never set foot in Jerusalem would be saved. God has done such things over and over again throughout the scriptures and history.
If you refer back to chapter 1 verses 7 and 8 you will read Jesus' words; "The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, (answering the apostles questions about freeing Israel and the restoration of their kingdom) and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be witnesses, telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth." The persecution accomplished what Jesus told them earlier. And those who scattered preached the Good News everywhere they went.
Phillip, another of the seven, went to Samaria and taught of Jesus, the Messiah. During that time, many evil spirits were cast out of people and many who were lame or paralyzed were healed bringing great joy to Samaria. The people listened eagerly to Phillip and his teachings. The news of Jesus and the healing that came with it brings great joy. The people believed Phillip's message about the Good News and the Kingdom of God and many men and women were baptized.
Among them was a man named Simon, who was a sorcerer. He did amazing things with his magic and demonic powers. He claimed he was someone great. People even called him the "Great One - the Power of God." Simon heard Phillip's preaching and saw what happened to the people because of it. He saw their joy and saw them being baptized and he began following Phillip everywhere he went. Simon himself heard and saw and believed and became baptized.
The apostles heard what was taking place in Samaria and sent Peter and John there. When they arrived they prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit for they had only been baptized in Jesus' name but the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them. Peter and John laid their hands on the new believers who then received the Holy Spirit.
Simon, the sorcerer, was watching all this take place. He realized the Spirit was given to the people when Peter and John laid hands on them. Simon offered them money to have the power they exhibited. He wanted to be able to lay his hands on people and give them the Holy Spirit. (I don't believe Simon really had any idea of what was happening. If you look at what he saw from the viewpoint of a sorcerer, you might have to think he wanted another power to add to his collection.)
(It is widely accepted that Simon may have been the founder of the Gnostic heresies. He perverted the Christian doctrine in many places including Rome. It is said he got into a "who can do the best miracle" contest with Peter but was defeated.)
Peter responded to Simon's request for the laying on of hands by saying, "May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought!" He went on to tell him he could never have that ability because his heart was not right with God and told Simon to repent and be forgiven by God. Peter told him he saw that he was full of bitter jealousy and was held captive by sin.
Simon asked Peter to, "Pray to the Lord for me that these terrible things you've said won't happen to me!" Simon's conversion was a great thing. (Can you imagine the impact Simon's conversion must have had on all those people who followed him and thought he was someone great?)
Peter and John preached and taught in Samaria then returned to Jerusalem. They stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to share the Good News. (Remember the story of the Good Samaritan and how the Jews hated the Samaritans? Think about the work Peter and John did in Samaria and in the villages on the route back to Jersusalem. Peter and John doing what they did showed a great change in them, by them not carrying the disgust they once may have had for all Samaritans. Their actions exhibit the change of heart brought about by following Jesus Christ and His teachings. Peter and John's view of the Samaritans is a great witness of what happens to those who accept Christ and His teachings.)
Phillip was then directed by an angel of the Lord to go south along the desert road that ran between Gaza and Jerusalem. Phillip happened upon a eunuch of great power and wealth. He was the treasurer of Ethiopia under the Kandake. Kandake was a title or power given to the queen mother much like the term Pharaoh. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was on his way home. Eunuchs were not allowed to enter the assembly to worship according to the Law. For him to travel all that way to worship is an interesting fact.
He was in his carriage reading the book of Isaiah out loud. The Holy Spirit told Phillip to go and walk alongside the eunuch's carriage. Phillip did so and heard him reading. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading and the eunuch said, "How can I unless someone instructs me?" Then the eunuch invited Philip into the carriage. The passage he was reading was (Isaiah 53:7-8 in the Greek version) "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." The eunuch asked Phillip if the prophet who wrote those words was talking about himself or another person. It is interesting that, "coincidentally" (no coincidence there) the eunuch was reading about Jesus at the time Philip was sent to bump into the eunuch. Philip took that opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with him. The eunuch was converted and as they rode along, they "coincidentally" passed some water and the eunuch expressed the desire to be baptized and Philip baptized him.
When they both came out of the water the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away never to be seen again by the eunuch. Philip then appeared in Azotus which was a Philistine city. Philip preached the Good News in Azotus (also Ashdod) and in all the towns along the way until he reached Caesarea. It seems he settled in Caesarea for it is known he was still there 20 years later. The areas Philip preached to were later visited by Peter.