This is the second time in this short sermon that the people were upset enough to try to cast Alma into prison (see v. 7). Like Abinadi who was preserved long enough to deliver his message and the Savior who slipped out of the hands of his enemies until his time had come, Alma is preserved by the power of God until he and Amulek had delivered their message. For the people of Ammohihah, this is how the Lord fills their cup of iniquity. He waits until they have received the full warning before he allows them to persecute or kill his prophets. Then he is justified in punishing them in full measure. The Lord said to the scribes and Pharisees:
'ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers (in opposing me and consenting to my death).
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.' (Matt 23:31-36).