The thing is, the religious leaders knew the truth of the scriptures, yet refused it. They were well read in the prophets, and they certainly knew what Moses said about Christ. They could not "resist" the Spirit. They could sin, yes, and reject acknowledging the truth of the scriptures.
I submit that is because they received the Torah and Tanach with their sensory perception and minds through diligent albeit earthy efforts - instead of hearing God spiritually. In the language of the soul, their ruach is centered on their nephesh and not on their neshama.
Stephen who was filled of the Holy Spirit testified that they did indeed "resist" the Spirit. (Acts 6 and 7) IOW, the Spirit was speaking, but they were not accepting what He was saying.
All of that goes back to my earlier protest that oh so many people have such an over-stated sense of self-importance that they are happy to receive a "small god" they can build a temple for, reach out and touch, keep in his place, and so on - but they cannot humble themselves to receive God who is (I AM.)