The Vigil

from Daniel 5:28

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

Daniel 5:28

PERES; Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

Daniel 6:1

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

from Daniel 5:31

Esther 1:1

Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even to Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

from Daniel 6:1

Esther 8:9

Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth its day; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, a hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

from Esther 1:1 · a strong link


a thread opens

Acts 20:21

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 11:18

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance to life.

from Acts 20:21

Acts 5:31

Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

from Acts 11:18

Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

from Acts 5:31

Acts 10:34

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Truly I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

from Acts 11:15


a thread opens

Acts 13:38

Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins:

II Corinthians 5:18

And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

from Acts 13:38

Romans 5:10

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

from II Corinthians 5:18

Romans 8:32

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

from Romans 5:10 · a strong link

II Corinthians 4:15

For all things are for your sakes, so that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many overflow to the glory of God.

from Romans 8:32

I Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

from II Corinthians 4:15

Luke 1:79

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

from I Peter 2:9


a thread opens

Acts 17:31

Because he has appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.

Psalms 98:9

Before the LORD; for he comes to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

from Acts 17:31

Psalms 96:10

Say among the pagans that the LORD reigns: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

from Psalms 98:9

Psalms 67:4

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for you shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.

from Psalms 96:10


a thread opens

Acts 4:27

For truly against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

Matthew 27:2

And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

from Acts 4:27 · a strong link

Acts 3:13

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus; whom you delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

from Matthew 27:2 · a strong link

John 19:15

But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

from Acts 3:13

Luke 23:18

And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas:

from John 19:15


a thread opens

Acts 7:51

You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you.

Romans 2:28

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

from Acts 7:51

Romans 9:6

Not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

from Romans 2:28

Hebrews 6:17

In which God, willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

from Romans 9:6

Job 23:13

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desires, even that he does.

from Hebrews 6:17

Daniel 4:35

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say to him, What do you do?

from Job 23:13 · a strong link


a thread opens

Acts 22:21

And he said to me, Depart: for I will send you far hence to the Gentiles.

Acts 9:15

But the Lord said to him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

from Acts 22:21 · a strong link

Acts 13:2

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

from Acts 9:15 · a strong link

Acts 8:29

Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.

from Acts 13:2

Acts 10:19

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Look, three men seek you.

from Acts 8:29

Acts 21:4

And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

from Acts 10:19

Acts 20:22

And now, look, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

from Acts 21:4

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Daniel 5:28 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