When the wicked priests took Abinadi before King Noah they used flattery to influence the king’s judgment against the prophet (see Mosiah 12:9–16). They then used the same tactics that the Sanhedrin would use on the Savior. They attempted to “cross [Abinadi]” in his words in order to find something to accuse him of (see Mark 14:55–64).King Noah’s priests challenged Abinadi with a statement from Isaiah. Abinadi showed that their ignorance of Isaiah’s words was due to their wickedness. He later explained that Isaiah’s words as quoted in Mosiah 12:21 referred to the Savior, and in verse 22 to those who were called to bear witness of the Savior (see Mosiah 15:10–18).
