Acts 8:4

They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.

As Joseph Benson noted:

The great majority of the dispersed Christians held no office in the church; yet they preached wherever they came, and this spread of the gospel without the Holy City, this planting the church in the regions beyond, was effected not by the apostles but by an entirely voluntary and unofficial agency.[9]

II. THE CHURCH IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA (Acts 8:5-11:18)

With Acts 8:5, a new era in the church began. The tide of evangelism burst forth from the Jewish capital, bringing the good news of salvation in Christ to Judaea and Samaria. Samaria was especially stressed by Luke, as he was a Gentile; and the Samaritans were particularly despised by the Jews. Therefore, by this, he would show how the gospel was intended for all peoples, even the Samaritans. The evangelist who successfully preached Christ in Samaria was one of the Seven, called Philip the evangelist. It is with his exploits that this chapter is principally concerned.