The Vigil

from Numbers 31:16

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

Numbers 31:16

Look, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Revelation of John 2:14

But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

from Numbers 31:16 · a strong link

Revelation of John 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral people, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

from Revelation of John 2:14

I Corinthians 10:20

But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that you should have fellowship with demons.

from Revelation of John 21:8 · a strong link


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.

Matthew 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

from Acts 20:21

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 Matthew 4:17

Psalms 51:1

To the director of music, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your loving devotion: according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

from Psalms 51:9

Psalms 69:16

Hear me, O LORD; for your loving devotion is good: turn to me according to the multitude of your tender mercies.

from Psalms 51:1 · 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

Acts 8:20

But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

from Acts 2:38

Revelation of John 18:15

The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand in the distance for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

from Acts 8:20

Acts 16:16

And it happened, as we went to prayer, a certain young woman possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

from Acts 19:24

Acts 16:13

And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spoke to the women which resorted there.

from Acts 16:16


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

Matthew 25:41

Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

from II Peter 3:7


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 4:10

Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole.

from Acts 3:6 · a strong link

Matthew 27:63

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

from Acts 4:10


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.

Deuteronomy 31:27

For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: look, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

from Acts 7:51

Deuteronomy 32:20

And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very perverse generation, children in whom is no faith.

from Deuteronomy 31:27

Isaiah 1:4

Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger, they have gone away backward.

from Deuteronomy 32:5

Jeremiah 7:19

Do they provoke me to anger? says the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

from Isaiah 1:4


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

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 Acts 9:15

II Peter 2:12

But these, as irrational animals, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

from I Timothy 1:7 · a strong link

Jeremiah 12:3

But you, O LORD, know me: you have seen me, and tried my heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

from II Peter 2:12 · a strong link

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Numbers 31:16 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