The Vigil

from Ezra 5:14

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

Ezra 5:14

And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

Ezra 5:16

Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

from Ezra 5:14

Ezra 6:15

And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

from Ezra 5:16 · a strong link

Esther 3:7

In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

from Ezra 6:15

Esther 9:24

Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

from Esther 3:7


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.

I John 5:11

And this is the testimony, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

from Acts 20:21

John 3:36

He that believes on the Son has eternal life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him.

from I John 5:11 · a strong link

Isaiah 40:5

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.

from Luke 3:6


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:

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

from Acts 13:38

Ezekiel 39:29

Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.

from Acts 2:38

Isaiah 45:17

But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: you shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

from Ezekiel 39:29

Isaiah 51:8

For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

from Isaiah 45:17 · a strong link

Isaiah 50:9

Look, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? look, they all shall grow old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

from Isaiah 51:8 · 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.

Romans 2:16

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

from Acts 17:31

II Timothy 2:8

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

from Romans 2:16 · a strong link

Matthew 1:1

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

from II Timothy 2:8 · a strong link


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

Mark 14:8

She has done what she could: she has come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

from Acts 3:6

II Corinthians 8:12

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 Mark 14:8


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.

Ezekiel 44:9

Thus says the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger among the children of Israel.

from Acts 7:51

Zechariah 14:21

Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and boil in it: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

from Ezekiel 44:9


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

Ephesians 3:7

Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of his power.

from Acts 9:15 · a strong link

Colossians 1:23

If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature under heaven; of which I Paul am made a minister;

from Ephesians 3:7

James 5:7

Be patient therefore, brothers, to the coming of the Lord. Look, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

from Galatians 6:9 · a strong link

Jeremiah 5:24

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that gives rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserves to us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

from James 5:7 · a strong link

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Ezra 5:14 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