If Jesus had not revealed in the hearts and exposed the sins of those who wanted to stone the adultress, they all would have stoned her to death. They followed the tradition of the law. Not that they were innocent, but that they did not get caught to be blamed for their sins like the adultress did. Stephen's words and testimony made him a martyr, because he preached of Moses and of God, and they called it blasphemous, because they had not the spirit of God in them. they revealed hostility against him because he was full of the Holy Ghost, and speaking the mystery of God, which they could not comprehend.. They could not discern the real truth,because they with carnal minds made up their own truth.