a thread opens
And afterward they desired a king: and God gave to them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
The Vigil
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.
And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
from Acts 13:21
And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and indeed, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shall you stay, till I come to you, and show you what you shall do.
from I Samuel 11:15 · a strong link
And all Israel heard say that Saul had struck a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
from I Samuel 10:8
a thread opens
Then Moses said to Aaron, This is it that the LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.
from Leviticus 10:3
And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
from Exodus 14:4
Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
from Exodus 7:3
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.
from Psalms 135:9
And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
from Psalms 136:15
You did blow with your wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
from Psalms 78:53
a thread opens
Now to him that is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
from Jude 1:24
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
from Ephesians 5:27
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
from I Peter 1:19 · a strong link
You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God any young bull, or sheep, in which is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.
from Exodus 12:5
a thread opens
Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:
from Jude 1:11
These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
from Numbers 26:9 · a strong link
And they rose up before Moses, with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
from Numbers 1:16
And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.
from Numbers 16:2
a thread opens
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Surely his salvation is near them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
from Luke 2:14
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation will not delay: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
from Psalms 85:9 · a strong link
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him.
from Isaiah 46:13
a thread opens
And shall not God give justice to his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?
But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
from Luke 18:7
Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
from Jeremiah 20:11 · a strong link
Be strong and courageous, do not fear, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God, he it is that does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you.
from Isaiah 41:10 · a strong link
And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: do not fear, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
from Deuteronomy 31:6 · a strong link
And Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and courageous: for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you shall cause them to inherit it.
from I Chronicles 28:20
But Joshua the son of Nun, which stands before you, he shall go in there: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
from Deuteronomy 31:7 · a strong link
a thread opens
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
from Luke 14:26 · a strong link
Long time therefore remained they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony to the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
from Acts 20:24
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and to that end with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
from Acts 14:3
Take heed, watch and pray: for you know not when the time is.
from Ephesians 6:18 · a strong link
But take heed: look, I have foretold you all things.
from Mark 13:33
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Acts 13:21 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