Reverend Parris makes an allusion to the story of Cain and Abel when he's questioning John Proctor.
Proctor claims that he is an upright man. He's trying to explain that even though he sometimes plows his fields on Sundays, it doesn't mean that he's not a good man. Parris, however, disagrees with his reasoning. Arthur Miller writes:
Parris: Do you read the Gospel, Mr. Proctor?
Proctor: I read the Gospel.
Parris: I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel.
Parris is trying to make the point that John Proctor, like Cain, may be an upright man. However, that doesn't stop him from doing terrible things or being a sinner. Parris is insinuating that Proctor is guilty, even if he's been known as a good man.
Proctor counters that while God told them that Cain killed Abel, a child is the one who accused Rebecca Nurse of killing children—and that the child is lying.
In Act Three, Deputy Governor Danforth begins questioning John Proctor's character, and Reverend Parris intervenes by mentioning that John only attends Sunday service once a month. Danforth then tells Proctor that he sees no reason to suspect why the girls would be lying to him. John Proctor responds by asking Danforth if it seems suspicious that women with an upright reputation their entire lives have suddenly been accused of witchcraft. Reverend Parris once again intervenes by asking Proctor if he reads his Bible. Parris proceeds to use a Biblical allusion by saying,
"I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel" (Miller, 91).
Reverend Parris is alluding to the Biblical story regarding Cain's murder of his righteous brother Abel. Until Cain murdered his brother, he was considered a morally upright man. Parris uses this allusion as evidence that people with spotless reputations are capable of committing horrific crimes and are not above suspicion.
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