a thread opens
That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Susa the palace,
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.
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it happened in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace,
from Esther 1:2 · a strong link
Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
from Nehemiah 1:1 · a strong link
And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
from Nehemiah 10:1
And the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
from Nehemiah 8:9 · a strong link
a thread opens
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
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
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich to all that call upon him.
from Acts 11:18 · a strong link
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
from Romans 10:12
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
from Galatians 3:28 · a strong link
Knowing that whatever good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
from Colossians 3:11
a thread opens
Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins:
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 13:38
Looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
from Acts 5:31
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:
from Hebrews 12:2 · a strong link
Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
from I Peter 2:23
And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be of doubtful mind.
from Psalms 37:5 · a strong link
And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on.
from Luke 12:29
a thread opens
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.
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
from Acts 17:31
For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son:
from Romans 2:16
And Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
from John 5:22 · a strong link
a thread opens
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,
By stretching forth your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your holy child Jesus.
from Acts 4:27 · a strong link
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
from Acts 4:30
For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man has, and not according to that he has not.
from Acts 3:6
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two small copper coins, which make a copper coin.
from II Corinthians 8:12
a thread opens
You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you.
Circumcise therefore your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.
from Acts 7:51 · a strong link
Understand therefore, that the LORD your God gives you not this good land to possess it for your righteousness; for you are a stiff-necked people.
from Deuteronomy 10:16
And the LORD said to Moses, I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stiff-necked people:
from Deuteronomy 9:6
And he said, If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, please, go among us; for it is a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.
from Exodus 32:9 · a strong link
For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
from Exodus 34:9
a thread opens
And he said to me, Depart: for I will send you far hence to the Gentiles.
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
To which I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
from Acts 9:15
To which I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
from I Timothy 2:7 · a strong link
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor of which they affirm.
from II Timothy 1:11
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
from I Timothy 1:7
Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the carved image: for his cast image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
from Romans 1:22
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Esther 1:2 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