a thread opens
But we, brothers, having been torn away from you for a short time, in person, not in heart, made every effort to see your face with great desire.
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.
For I truly, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that has so done this deed,
from I Thessalonians 2:17 · a strong link
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and seeing your order, and the stability of your faith in Christ.
from I Corinthians 5:3 · a strong link
Let all things be done decently and in order.
from Colossians 2:5 · a strong link
For this cause I left you in Crete, so that you should set in order what is lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you:
from I Corinthians 14:40
a thread opens
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
from Acts 20:21
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance to life.
from Matthew 4:17
For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.
from Acts 11:18 · a strong link
A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
from II Corinthians 7:10
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
from Proverbs 17:22 · a strong link
a thread opens
Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins:
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
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
from II Corinthians 5:18
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
from Colossians 1:20
The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
from Psalms 85:10 · a strong link
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says to Zion, Your God reigns!
from Psalms 72:3
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.
from Isaiah 52:7
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
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, who was committed to my trust.
from Romans 2:16 · a strong link
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to me, as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter;
from I Timothy 1:11 · 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,
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
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus; whom you delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
from Matthew 27:2 · a strong link
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
from Acts 3:13
Saying, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and dared not look.
from Matthew 22:32
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 do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed to the day of redemption.
from Acts 7:51
And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
from Ephesians 4:30
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation, neither shadow due to change.
from Genesis 6:6
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
from James 1:17 · a strong link
Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
from Hebrews 13:8
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
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 9:15
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
from I Timothy 2:7
Again, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, beloved, for your building up.
from Romans 9:1
For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
from II Corinthians 12:19
I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which previously have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
from II Corinthians 10:8
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from I Thessalonians 2:17 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