The Vigil

from Genesis 37:12

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

Genesis 37:12

And his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.

Genesis 33:18

And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.

from Genesis 37:12

John 4:5

Then he came to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

from Genesis 33:18

Genesis 33:19

And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money.

from John 4:5 · a strong link

Acts 7:16

And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

from Genesis 33:19 · a strong link


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.

II Timothy 2:25

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God perhaps will give them repentance to the knowledge of the truth;

from II Corinthians 7:10 · a strong link

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.

from II Timothy 2:25

I Peter 2:21

For even to this were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that you should follow his steps:

from Philippians 2:5 · 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

Hebrews 7:25

Therefore he is able also to save them completely that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

from Romans 5:10

Job 13:3

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

from Job 23:3

Isaiah 41:21

Produce your cause, says the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob.

from Job 13:3


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 93:1

The LORD reigns, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, with which he has girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved.

from Psalms 96:10 · 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,

Matthew 27:2

And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

from Acts 4:27 · a strong link

Luke 13:1

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

from Matthew 27:2

Lamentations 2:20

Look, O LORD, and consider to whom you have done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

from Luke 13:1

Jeremiah 19:9

And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and dire need, with which their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.

from Lamentations 2:20 · a strong link


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.

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

from Acts 7:51

Romans 2:25

For circumcision truly profits, if you keep the law: but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision.

from Philippians 3:3

Jeremiah 4:4

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

from Romans 2:25

Zephaniah 2:2

Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’s anger come upon you.

from Jeremiah 4:4

Nahum 1:6

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can remain in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

from Zephaniah 2:2


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

Acts 13:2

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

from Acts 9:15 · a strong link

Acts 8:29

Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.

from Acts 13:2

Acts 16:6

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia,

from Acts 8:29

Galatians 3:1

O foolish Galatians, who has cast a spell on you, so that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been publicly portrayed, crucified among you?

from Acts 16:6

Hebrews 5:9

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;

from Galatians 3:1

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Genesis 37:12 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