The Vigil

from Esther 9:1

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

Esther 9:1

Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

Esther 3:13

And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the plunder of them for a prey.

from Esther 9:1 · a strong link

I Samuel 15:3

Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.

from Esther 3:13

Joshua 6:17

And the city shall be devoted to destruction, even it, and all that are in it, to the LORD: only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

from I Samuel 15:3

Deuteronomy 20:17

But you shall utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD your God has commanded you:

from Joshua 6:17


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 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 Acts 20:21

Isaiah 42:7

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

from Acts 26:18 · a strong link

Luke 24:45

Then he opened their understanding, so that they might understand the Scriptures,

from Isaiah 42:7

Ephesians 5:14

Therefore he said, Wake up, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

from Luke 24:45

Isaiah 52:1

Awake, awake; put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for from now on there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.

from Ephesians 5:14 · a strong link


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

I Corinthians 2:12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

from Romans 8:32

Romans 8:5

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

from I Corinthians 2:12

Philippians 3:18

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

from Romans 8:5 · a strong link


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,

Acts 4:30

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

Acts 3:6

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

Acts 2:36

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

from Acts 3:6

II Thessalonians 1:7

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

from Acts 2:36


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.

Exodus 32:9

And the LORD said to Moses, I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stiff-necked people:

from Acts 7:51 · a strong link

Exodus 34:9

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

Zechariah 2:12

And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.

from Exodus 34:9

Zechariah 1:17

Cry yet, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

from Zechariah 2:12 · a strong link

Isaiah 14:1

For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cling to the house of Jacob.

from Zechariah 1:17


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

Romans 1:5

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

from Acts 9:15

Romans 16:26

But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

from Romans 1:5 · a strong link

Luke 1:70

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

from Romans 1:2 · a strong link

Acts 3:21

Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

from Luke 1:70

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Esther 9:1 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