The Vigil

from Matthew 20:2

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 20:2

And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:13

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with me for a denarius?

from Matthew 20:2

Matthew 22:12

And he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

from Matthew 20:13 · a strong link

Matthew 26:50

And Jesus said to him, Friend, why have you come? Then they came, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

from Matthew 22:12 · a strong link

Psalms 41:9

Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

from Matthew 26:50


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 3:19

Repent you therefore, and be converted, so that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

from II Corinthians 7:10 · a strong link

II Thessalonians 1:7

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

from Acts 3:19

Revelation of John 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

from Revelation of John 22:9


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:

II Corinthians 5:18

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

Colossians 1:20

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

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 Colossians 1:20 · a strong link

I John 5:11

And this is the testimony, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

from I John 4:9 · a strong link

John 6:68

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life.

from I John 5:11

John 5:39

Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

from John 6:68


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.

II Peter 3:7

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire for the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

from Acts 17:31

Psalms 89:34

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips.

from Matthew 24:35 · 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,

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

Acts 2:36

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

from Acts 3:6

II Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.

from Acts 2:36


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.

Isaiah 63:10

But they rebelled, and troubled his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

from Acts 7:51

Judges 4:1

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.

from Judges 2:11 · a strong link

Jeremiah 5:3

O LORD, are not your eyes upon the truth? you have stricken them, but they have not grieved; you have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

from Judges 4:1


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

II Timothy 4:16

At my first defense no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

from Acts 9:15

Acts 7:60

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

from II Timothy 4:16 · a strong link

Acts 13:36

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid to his fathers, and saw corruption:

from Acts 7:60

Acts 13:22

And when he had removed him, he raised up to them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.

from Acts 13:36

II Samuel 2:4

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.

from Acts 13:22

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 20:2 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