The people resisted and killed the prophets who were led by the HS in the reference in Acts 7. Perhaps Dr. Eckleburg means being unable to resist a more direct approach by the HS. The Word being preached must fall on good ground to take effect, and good ground is different from thorny ground. Thorny ground cannot make itself good ground.
You could be right about what DrE meant.
My sense is that they rejected the Gospel preached by Stephen, and Stephen knew the Holy Spirit was the source of his proclamation at that moment.
However, the truth is that no one ultimately resists God’s design for this world.
The saved will be saved, and the lost will be lost.
Every time someone hears the gospel and refuses they are resisting the Holy Spirit.
However one will never resist the indwelling Holy Spirit that leads one to repent and believe