Answer #4

              These people had an aversion to hearing or learning anything new.  The example of Stephen shows us this.  Stephen was performing signs and portents before the people when some from the Synagogue of the Freedmen and others confronted him.  As he was able to hold his own in the dispute with them, they decided to bring him before the Sanhedrin.  In order to do this the only charge that they could bring against him was that he was heard speaking blasphemous things against Moses and God.  Of course this was a lie.