The Vigil

from II Samuel 20:3

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

II Samuel 20:3

And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

II Samuel 15:16

And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

from II Samuel 20:3 · a strong link

II Samuel 16:21

And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s concubines, which he has left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred of your father: then shall the hands of all that are with you be strong.

from II Samuel 15:16 · a strong link

II Samuel 2:7

Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

from II Samuel 16:21

Genesis 15:1

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Do not fear, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceedingly great reward.

from II Samuel 2:7


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.

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 Matthew 3:2

Acts 5:21

And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

from II Timothy 2:25

John 8:2

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him; and he sat down, and taught them.

from Acts 5:21


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 5:31

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

Matthew 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

from Acts 5:31

II Kings 4:16

And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, you shall embrace a son. And she said, No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your maidservant.

from Matthew 1:21

Genesis 17:21

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year.

from II Kings 4:16

Genesis 18:10

And he said, I will certainly return to you according to the time of life; and, look, Sarah your wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

from Genesis 17:21

Genesis 17:19

And God said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed; and you shall call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

from Genesis 18:10


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.

II Peter 3:7

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire for the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

from Acts 17:31


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

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 Acts 3:6


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.

Romans 2:28

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

from Acts 7:51

Revelation of John 2:9

I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

from Romans 2:28

Matthew 4:10

Then says Jesus to him, Get you hence, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.

from Revelation of John 2:9

Luke 4:8

And Jesus answered him, Get you behind me, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.

from Deuteronomy 10:20


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

I Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

from Romans 1:5

Romans 12:3

For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

from I Corinthians 15:10 · a strong link

I Peter 4:11

If any man speak, let him speak as the utterances of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

from Romans 12:3 · a strong link

I Peter 4:10

As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

from I Peter 4:11

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from II Samuel 20:3 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