Noah was so angry with Abinadi that he wanted him put to death (v. 1). At the time of his incarceration, Noah lacked one important thing—a good reason to kill Abinadi. It is likely that the three days of counsel with the priests revolved around what charges they could procure against Abinadi. The first words out of Noah’s foul lips were, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death. One appropriately wonders, what did Abinadi do that was worthy of death?
We don‘t know that much about Nephite law but we do know that there was no law against a man’s belief (Alma 30:7). Therefore, Noah lacks a legal precedent for killing Abinadi. Accordingly, he comes up with a pretty lame excuse, For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men; and now, for this cause thou shalt be put to death (v. 8). Does this true statement constitute a capital offense? In which law does it state that God’s condescension is so impossible and offensive that the teacher of such doctrine should be put to death? Here are the first similarities between the trial of Abinadi and the trial of Christ. They were both wrongfully accused, wrongfully condemned, and wrongfully put to death.