The Vigil

from Matthew 21:1

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 21:1

And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and had come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Acts 1:12

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day’s journey.

from Matthew 21:1 · a strong link

Luke 24:50

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

from Acts 1:12


a thread opens

Leviticus 10:3

Then Moses said to Aaron, This is it that the LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Ezekiel 28:22

And say, Thus says the Lord GOD; Look, I am against you, O Sidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of you: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.

from Leviticus 10:3

Exodus 14:17

And I, look, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

from Ezekiel 28:22

Exodus 14:8

And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with a high hand.

from Exodus 14:17

Exodus 13:9

And it shall be for a sign to you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, so that the LORD’s law may be in your mouth: for with a strong hand has the LORD brought you out of Egypt.

from Exodus 14:8

Deuteronomy 11:18

Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, so that they may be as bands between your eyes.

from Exodus 13:9


a thread opens

Jude 1:24

Now to him that is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Hebrews 13:20

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

from Jude 1:24

Isaiah 55:3

Incline your ear, and come to me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

from Hebrews 13:20

John 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has eternal life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.

from Isaiah 55:3

John 20:31

But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.

from John 5:24 · a strong link

I John 4:15

Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.

from John 20:31


a thread opens

Jude 1:11

Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

I John 3:12

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And why he slew him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

from Jude 1:11 · a strong link

Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks.

from I John 3:12 · a strong link

Matthew 23:35

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you slew between the temple and the altar.

from Hebrews 11:4 · a strong link

Zechariah 1:1

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

from Matthew 23:35 · a strong link


a thread opens

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Acts 10:36

The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

from Luke 2:14

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.

from Acts 10:36 · a strong link

Hebrews 2:8

You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

from Matthew 28:18 · a strong link


a thread opens

Luke 18:7

And shall not God give justice to his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?

Romans 8:33

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies.

from Luke 18:7

Revelation of John 12:10

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now has come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

from Romans 8:33 · a strong link

Ezra 5:2

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

from Zechariah 3:1

Ezra 6:14

And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

from Ezra 5:2

Ezra 5:13

But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

from Ezra 6:14


a thread opens

Luke 14:26

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

John 12:25

He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.

from Luke 14:26 · a strong link

Mark 8:35

For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

from John 12:25 · a strong link

II Timothy 2:10

Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

from I Corinthians 9:23

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 21:1 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