The Vigil

from Acts 12:17

Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.

a thread opens

Acts 12:17

But he, beckoning to them with the hand to keep silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things to James, and to the brothers. And he departed, and went into another place.

Matthew 12:46

While he yet talked to the people, look, his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him.

from Galatians 1:19

John 7:3

His brothers therefore said to him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see the works that you do.

from Matthew 12:46 · a strong link

John 7:5

For neither did his brothers believe in him.

from John 7:3 · a strong link

Mark 3:21

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

from John 7:5 · a strong link


a thread opens

I Corinthians 8:4

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

Deuteronomy 4:39

Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

from I Corinthians 8:4

Isaiah 45:18

For thus says the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he has established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

from Deuteronomy 4:35 · a strong link

Ezekiel 36:10

And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be built:

from Isaiah 45:18


a thread opens

I John 3:16

By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

John 10:15

As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

from I John 3:16

John 15:13

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

from John 10:15

I John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.

from John 15:13


a thread opens

I John 2:27

But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.

I John 2:20

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

from I John 2:27 · a strong link

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

from I John 2:20

Luke 4:18

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

from Acts 10:38 · a strong link

Acts 26:18

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in me.

from Luke 4:18 · a strong link

I John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

from Acts 26:18

Psalms 51:2

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

from I John 1:9 · a strong link


a thread opens

I Corinthians 12:28

And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link

I Peter 5:5

Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.

from Hebrews 13:17

James 4:6

But he gives more grace. Therefore he said, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

from I Peter 5:5 · a strong link

Luke 18:14

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

from James 4:6

Luke 16:15

And he said to them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

from Luke 18:14


a thread opens

I Chronicles 29:17

I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.

I Chronicles 28:9

And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

from I Chronicles 29:17 · a strong link

Psalms 7:9

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God tries the hearts and inmost thoughts.

from I Chronicles 28:9 · a strong link

Jeremiah 20:12

But, O LORD of hosts, that try the righteous, and see the inmost thoughts and the heart, let me see your vengeance on them: for to you have I opened my cause.

from Psalms 7:9

Psalms 62:8

Trust in him at all times; you people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

from Jeremiah 20:12 · a strong link


a thread opens

I Corinthians 5:7

Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:

Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.

from I Peter 1:19

I Peter 1:18

Since you know that you were not redeemed with perishable things, as silver and gold, from your futile ways received by tradition from your fathers;

from Acts 20:28

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Acts 12:17 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.

Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.

The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table