a thread opens
The children of Bethlehem, a hundred twenty-three.
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.
These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim,
from Ezra 2:21
And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
from I Chronicles 2:50
Depart you, depart you, go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out of the midst of her; be clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
from I Samuel 7:1
Therefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
from Isaiah 52:11 · 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.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
from Acts 20:21
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
from Luke 24:47
Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, so that he might make his mighty power to be known.
from I John 2:12
But I worked for my name’s sake, so that it should not be polluted before the pagans, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
from Psalms 106:8 · a strong link
But I had pity for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the pagans, where they went.
from Ezekiel 20:9
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
And killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead; of which we are witnesses.
from Acts 5:31
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;
from Acts 3:15
But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
from Hebrews 5:9
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
from Romans 2:8
For which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience:
from Romans 1:18 · a strong link
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
I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
from Romans 2:16
And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
from II Timothy 4:1 · 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
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
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.
from Acts 2:36
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.
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
from Acts 7:51
And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
from Acts 7:9
The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
from Genesis 37:4
Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
from Genesis 49:23
Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bends his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
from Psalms 64:3
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
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office:
from Acts 9:15
Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send you,
from Romans 11:13
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 26:17
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
from I Timothy 2:7
As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
from Romans 9:1
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Ezra 2:21 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