The Vigil

from Matthew 12:20

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

Matthew 12:20

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment to victory.

Luke 4:18

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

from Matthew 12:20

Isaiah 32:3

And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall listen.

from Luke 4:18 · a strong link

Isaiah 29:18

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

from Isaiah 32:3 · a strong link

Ephesians 1:17

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

from Isaiah 29:18


a thread opens

I Corinthians 8:4

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

Isaiah 44:6

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 I Corinthians 8:4

Revelation of John 2:8

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link

Revelation of John 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches in Asia; to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

from Revelation of John 2:8

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 1:11


a thread opens

I John 3:16

By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

I John 4:9

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

from I John 3:16 · a strong link

John 6:57

As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me.

from I John 4:9 · a strong link

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

from John 6:57


a thread opens

I John 2:27

But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.

I Thessalonians 4:1

Furthermore then we beg you, brothers, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more.

from Colossians 2:6 · a strong link

Romans 15:27

It has pleased them truly; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in carnal things.

from Galatians 6:6


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I Corinthians 12:28

And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.

Ephesians 3:5

Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

from I Corinthians 12:28

Acts 10:28

And he said to them, You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to associate, or come to one of another nation; but God has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

from Ephesians 3:5

John 4:9

Then says the woman of Samaria to him, How is it that you, being a Jew, ask drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

from Acts 10:28 · a strong link

Luke 17:16

And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

from John 4:9

Revelation of John 19:4

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

from Luke 17:16


a thread opens

I Chronicles 29:17

I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.

Philemon 1:7

For we have great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

from I Chronicles 29:17


a thread opens

I Corinthians 5:7

Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:

Deuteronomy 17:12

And the man that will do defiantly, and will not listen to the priest that stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die: and you shall put away the evil from Israel.

from I Corinthians 5:13

Ezra 10:8

And that whoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

from Deuteronomy 17:12

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 12:20 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