The Vigil

from Matthew 21:26

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 21:26

But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

Matthew 21:46

But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

from Matthew 21:26

John 1:21

And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he says, I am not. Are you that prophet? And he answered, No.

from Matthew 21:11


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.

Leviticus 21:17

Speak to Aaron, saying, Whoever he be of your seed in their generations that has any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

from Leviticus 10:3

Numbers 16:5

And he spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, Even tomorrow the LORD will show who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near to him: even him whom he has chosen will he cause to come near to him.

from Leviticus 21:17

Numbers 17:5

And it shall happen, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the children of Israel, whereby they grumble against you.

from Numbers 16:5 · a strong link

Numbers 16:11

For this reason both you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that you grumble against him?

from Numbers 17:5

Exodus 17:2

Therefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said to them, Why chide you with me? why do you tempt the LORD?

from Numbers 16:11

Exodus 17:7

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

from Exodus 17:2


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,

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him that is able to do immeasurably more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

from Jude 1:24 · a strong link

Hebrews 11:19

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from where also he received him in a figure.

from Ephesians 3:20 · a strong link

Genesis 22:13

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and look behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.

from Hebrews 11:19

Psalms 89:19

Then you spoke in vision to your holy one, and said, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

from Genesis 22:13

I Samuel 16:18

Then answered one of the servants, and said, Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is skilled in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a warrior, and prudent in matters, and a beautiful person, and the LORD is with him.

from Psalms 89:19


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.

Numbers 26:9

And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:

from Jude 1:11

Numbers 1:16

These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.

from Numbers 26:9 · a strong link

Exodus 18:21

Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating greed; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

from Numbers 1:16 · a strong link

Acts 6:3

Therefore, brothers, look you out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

from Exodus 18:21 · a strong link


a thread opens

Luke 2:14

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

John 17:4

I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do.

from Luke 2:14

John 13:31

Therefore, when he had gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

from John 17:4

John 7:39

(But this he spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

from John 13:31 · 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?

II Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some men count slowness; but is patience toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

from Luke 18:7

Habakkuk 2:3

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it delays, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.

from II Peter 3:9 · a strong link

II Peter 2:3

And through greed shall they with fabricated words exploit you: whose judgment now of a long time is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

from Habakkuk 2:3 · a strong link

Deuteronomy 32:35

To me belongs vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

from II Peter 2:3

Deuteronomy 32:43

Rejoice, O you nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful to his land, and to his people.

from Deuteronomy 32:35

Romans 12:19

Beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.

from Deuteronomy 32:43


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.

Deuteronomy 33:9

Who said to his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brothers, nor knew his own children: for they have observed your word, and kept your covenant.

from Luke 14:26

Galatians 1:10

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

from Deuteronomy 33:9

Colossians 3:22

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not only while being watched, as people-pleasers; but in sincerity of heart, fearing God:

from Galatians 1:10 · a strong link

Ephesians 6:5

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

from Colossians 3:22

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 21:26 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