36 And those judges were angry with him because he spake plain unto them concerning their secret works of darkness; nevertheless they durst not lay their own hands upon him; for they feared the people, lest they should cry out against them; therefore they did cry unto the people, saying, Why do ye suffer this man to revile against us?
37 For behold, he doth condemn all this people, even unto destruction; yea, and also that these our great cities shall be taken from us, that we shall have no place in them.
38 And now we know that this is impossible; for behold we are powerful, and our cities great; therefore our enemies can have no power over us.
39 And it came to pass that thus they did stir up the people to anger against Nephi, and raised contentions among them; for there were some who did cry out, Let this man alone, for he is a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come to pass except we repent;
40 Yea, behold all the judgments will come upon us which he has testified unto us; for we know that he has testified aright unto us concerning our iniquities.
41 And behold they are many; and he knoweth as well all things which shall befall us as he knoweth of our iniquities; yea, and behold if he had not been a prophet he could not have testified concerning those things.
42 And it came to pass that those people who sought to destroy Nephi, were compelled because of their fear, that they did not lay their hands on him.
43 Therefore he began again to speak unto them, seeing that he had gained favor in the eyes of some, insomuch that the remainder of them did fear.
44 Therefore he was constrained to speak more unto them, saying, Behold my brethren, have ye not read that God gave power unto one man, even Moses, to smite upon the waters of the Red Sea, and they parted hither and thither, insomuch that the Israelites, who were our fathers, came through upon dry ground, and the waters closed upon the armies of the Egyptians, and swallowed them up?
45 And now behold, if God gave unto this man such power then why should ye dispute among yourselves, and say that he hath given unto me no power whereby I may know concerning the judgments that shall come upon you except ye repent?
46 But behold, ye not only deny my words, but ye also deny all the words which hath been spoken by our fathers, and also the words which were spoken by this man, Moses, who had such great power given unto him; yea, the words which he hath spoken concerning the coming of the Messiah.
