The Vigil

from Matthew 16:18

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 16:18

And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Isaiah 38:10

I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.

from Matthew 16:18

II Corinthians 1:9

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, so that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:

from Isaiah 38:10

Romans 4:17

(As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead, and calls those things which are not as though they were.

from II Corinthians 1:9

Isaiah 49:12

Look, these shall come from afar: and, look, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

from Romans 4:17

Luke 13:29

And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

from Isaiah 49:12


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.

Mark 12:29

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

from I Corinthians 8:4

Hebrews 8:6

But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

from Galatians 3:20


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.

Romans 5:8

But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

from I John 3:16 · a strong link

John 15:13

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

from Romans 5:8 · a strong link

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

from John 15:13 · a strong link


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.

John 16:13

However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

from I John 2:27

John 12:49

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

from John 16:13 · a strong link

John 15:15

From now on I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you.

from John 12:49

I Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.

from John 15:15 · a strong link

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

from I Corinthians 2:9 · a strong link

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

from John 3:16 · a strong link


a thread opens

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.

I Kings 12:28

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: look, your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

from II Chronicles 15:3

II Kings 10:29

However from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, namely, the golden calves in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

from I Kings 12:28 · a strong link

I Kings 13:33

After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.

from II Kings 10:29


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.

II Corinthians 1:12

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conduct in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

from I Chronicles 29:17

I Corinthians 2:13

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

from II Corinthians 1:12

I Peter 1:12

To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they did minister the things, which are now reported to you by them that have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

from I Corinthians 2:13

Ephesians 3:10

To the intent that now to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places might be known by the church the multifaceted wisdom of God,

from I Peter 1:12


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:

Revelation of John 5:6

And I saw, and, look, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

from I Corinthians 5:7

Daniel 7:14

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

from Revelation of John 5:6 · a strong link

Revelation of John 11:15

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

from Daniel 7:14 · a strong link

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 16:18 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