Final answer:
Reverend Parris wants the court to delay the executions because he fears for his safety, recognizing that public opinion is against them and that Abby's flight casts doubt on the trials' legitimacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The real reason Rev. Parris wants the court to delay today's executions in Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, is because he fears for his own safety. Parris has become increasingly concerned that the public sentiment is turning against the executions. He observes that the townsfolk are upset and the executions might cause an uproar, which could directly impact him, given his role in the proceedings. Moreover, there is a personal element to his concerns: he reveals that his niece, Abigail Williams, has stolen his money and fled, which casts doubt on the integrity of the accusers and by extension, the legitimacy of the court's judgments.