Who headed up the great persecution against the Jerusalem assembly after Stephen's death?

Les explains that Saul was more than consenting to the persecution; he was actually promoting it and leading the rebellion. At that time a great persecution arose against the church, which Les prefers to call the Assembly at Jerusalem, and it was headed up by Saul. Les reads the account literally: all the believing Jews were scattered abroad throughout Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. They had to flee for their lives, or Saul would have had them, yet the leaders of the Jewish believers stayed in Jerusalem. Les notes this occurs seven years after Pentecost.