The Vigil

from I Samuel 18:17

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

I Samuel 18:17

And Saul said to David, Look, my elder daughter Merab, her will I give you to wife: only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

I Samuel 18:25

And Saul said, Thus shall you say to David, The king desires not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

from I Samuel 18:17 · a strong link

I Samuel 14:24

And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eats any food until evening, that I may be avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

from I Samuel 18:25 · a strong link

Joshua 6:26

And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that rises up and builds this city Jericho: he shall lay its foundation in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

from I Samuel 14:24 · a strong link

I Kings 16:34

In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid its foundation in Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

from Joshua 6:26 · 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.

Mark 1:15

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel.

from Acts 20:21

Luke 10:9

And heal the sick in it, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you.

from Mark 1:15

Acts 28:7

In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

from Luke 10:9

Acts 2:41

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.

from Luke 19:6


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 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

Acts 2:33

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear.

from Acts 5:31 · a strong link

Acts 10:45

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.

from Acts 2:33 · a strong link

Acts 10:23

Then he called them in, and lodged them. And on the next day Peter went away with them, and certain brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

from Acts 10:45 · a strong link

Acts 11:12

And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brothers accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:

from Acts 10:23 · a strong link

Acts 8:29

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

from Acts 11:12 · 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 96:13

Before the LORD: for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

from Acts 17:31

Revelation of John 19:11

And I saw heaven opened, and look, a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.

from Psalms 96:13 · a strong link

Revelation of John 3:7

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he who is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;

from Revelation of John 19:11


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

John 19:19

And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

from Acts 3:6

Luke 23:38

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

from John 19:19 · 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.

Exodus 33:3

To a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of you; for you are a stiff-necked people: lest I consume you in the way.

from Acts 7:51

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 33:15

I Samuel 4:2

And the Philistines drew up in battle against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

from Psalms 78:62


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

Galatians 1:15

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

from Acts 9:15 · a strong link

Colossians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

from Romans 1:1 · a strong link

II Corinthians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God at Corinth, with all the saints in all Achaia:

from Colossians 1:1

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from I Samuel 18:17 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