The Vigil

from Matthew 16:9

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 16:9

Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

John 6:5

When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come to him, he said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

from Matthew 14:17

Luke 9:12

And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said to him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and surrounding country, and lodge, and get provisions: for we are here in a desert place.

from John 6:5

Matthew 15:23

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, Send her away; for she cries after us.

from Luke 9:12


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.

Acts 26:18

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in me.

from Acts 20:21

I John 2:8

Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is passing away, and the true light now shines.

from I Thessalonians 5:4 · a strong link

II Corinthians 4:4

In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them.

from I John 2:8


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:

Luke 24:47

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

from Acts 13:38 · a strong link

Matthew 28:19

Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

from Luke 24:47 · a strong link

Acts 8:36

And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized?

from Matthew 28:19

Acts 10:47

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?

from Acts 8:36

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

from Acts 10:47

I Corinthians 14:5

I wish that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, so that the church may receive building up.

from Acts 2:4


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 9:8

And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

from Acts 17:31

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 Psalms 9:8 · a strong link

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


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,

Matthew 27:2

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

Luke 13:1

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

from Matthew 27:2

I Peter 4:17

For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

from Luke 13:1

Matthew 11:20

Then began he to upbraid the cities in which most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

from I Peter 4:17


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.

Jeremiah 4:4

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

from Acts 7:51

Isaiah 30:27

Look, the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning with his anger, and its burden is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:

from Jeremiah 4:4

Isaiah 9:5

For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

from Isaiah 30:27


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

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 Romans 1:5

I Corinthians 7:17

But as God has distributed to every man, as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

from Romans 12:3

I Corinthians 4:17

For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

from I Corinthians 7:17 · a strong link

I Corinthians 7:25

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

from I Corinthians 4:17

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 16:9 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