The Vigil

from Matthew 4:11

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 4:11

Then the devil leaves him, and indeed, angels came and served him.

Revelation of John 5:11

And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

from Matthew 4:11

Psalms 103:20

Bless the LORD, you his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, listening to the voice of his word.

from Psalms 148:2


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

Exodus 28:1

And take to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, so that he may minister to me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.

from Numbers 16:5

Exodus 6:23

And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bore him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

from Exodus 28:1


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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,

John 10:29

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

from Jude 1:24

Exodus 18:11

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing in which they dealt proudly he was above them.

from John 10:29

Psalms 145:3

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unfathomable.

from Psalms 95:3 · a strong link


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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

Hebrews 12:24

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.

from Hebrews 11:4 · a strong link

Exodus 24:8

And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Look, the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you concerning all these words.

from Hebrews 12:24


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Luke 2:14

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

Luke 19:38

Saying, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

from Luke 2:14 · a strong link

Matthew 21:9

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

from Luke 19:38

Matthew 23:39

For I say to you, You shall not see me from now on, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

from Matthew 21:9 · a strong link


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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

I Timothy 1:16

However for this cause I obtained mercy, so that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all patience, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to eternal life.

from II Peter 3:9

Ephesians 2:7

That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

from I Timothy 1:16

Revelation of John 5:9

And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

from Ephesians 2:7


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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

I Chronicles 17:17

And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O God; for you have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

from Deuteronomy 33:9

II Samuel 7:19

And this was yet a small thing in your sight, O Lord GOD; but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

from Ephesians 3:20 · a strong link

Psalms 36:7

How excellent is your loving devotion, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings.

from II Samuel 7:19

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 4:11 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