a thread opens
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
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.
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
from Deuteronomy 19:15 · a strong link
Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
from II Corinthians 13:1
It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
from Numbers 35:30
Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
from John 8:17
The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ remains for ever: and how do you say, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
from Galatians 4:21
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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.
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb, I am the LORD that makes all things; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreads abroad the earth by myself;
from I Corinthians 8:4
He stretches out the north over the empty place, and hangs the earth upon nothing.
from Isaiah 44:24
For he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
from Job 26:7
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.
from Psalms 24:2 · a strong link
a thread opens
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.
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
from I John 3:16
Therefore thus says the LORD; Look, against this family do I devise an evil, from which you shall not remove your necks; neither shall you go haughtily: for this time is evil.
from Romans 16:4
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
from Micah 2:3 · a strong link
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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.
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it remain in the vine; no more can you, except you remain in me.
from I John 2:27
Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not know your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?
from John 15:4
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
from II Corinthians 13:5 · a strong link
Christ has become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you have fallen from grace.
from Hebrews 12:15 · a strong link
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it is of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
from Galatians 5:4 · a strong link
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
from Romans 11:6
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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.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
from I Corinthians 12:28
Now there were in the church at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
from Romans 12:6
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of comfort,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
from Acts 13:1
And the other Jews acted hypocritically likewise with him; so that Barnabas also was carried away with their hypocrisy.
from Acts 4:36
That we from now on be no more children, tossed back and forth, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the craftiness of men, and crafty scheming, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
from Galatians 2:13
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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.
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
from I Chronicles 29:17
So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
from Hebrews 4:12 · a strong link
Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself:
from Isaiah 55:11
Even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
from Ephesians 1:9 · a strong link
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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:
And I saw, and, look, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
from I Corinthians 5:7
The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb mute before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.
from Acts 8:32 · a strong link
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Deuteronomy 19:15 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