The Vigil

from Matthew 6:26

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 6:26

Look, the birds of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?

Job 38:41

Who provides for the raven his food? when his young ones cry to God, they wander for lack of food.

from Matthew 6:26 · a strong link

Luke 12:24

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the birds?

from Job 38:41 · a strong link

Luke 12:7

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.

from Luke 12:24

I Samuel 14:45

And the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? By no means: as the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

from Luke 12:7


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 20:24

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

from Acts 20:21

Galatians 1:1

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

from Acts 20:24 · a strong link

Ephesians 3:8

To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, so that I should preach among the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ;

from Galatians 1:1

I Timothy 2:7

To which I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

from II Timothy 1:11 · a strong link


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:

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

from Acts 13:38

Matthew 3:2

And saying, Repent you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

from Acts 2:38 · a strong link

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 Matthew 3:2

Romans 9:22

What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

from II Peter 3:9

Proverbs 16:4

The LORD has made all things for himself: yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

from Romans 9:22 · a strong link


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.

Romans 2:16

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

from Acts 17:31

I Timothy 1:11

According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, who was committed to my trust.

from Romans 2:16 · a strong link

Titus 1:3

But has in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

from I Timothy 1:11


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

Lamentations 2:20

Look, O LORD, and consider to whom you have done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

from Luke 13:1


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.

Acts 7:9

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

from Acts 7:51

Genesis 37:4

And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.

from Acts 7:9

Genesis 37:28

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

from Genesis 49:23


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

Malachi 1:11

For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the pagans, says the LORD of hosts.

from Romans 1:5

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 Malachi 1:11

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 6:26 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