The Christmas story is told in two Gospels. Matthew 1:18-2:23 tells it from Joseph's side: the angel's dream, the birth, the wise men and the escape to Egypt. Luke 1:26-2:40 tells it from Mary's side: Gabriel's announcement, the trip to Bethlehem, the manger, the shepherds and the angels, and the presentation in the temple. The most-read passage is Luke 2:1-20, which begins, "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus" (Luke 2:1).
Many families read the Christmas story aloud on Christmas Eve, but it can be surprisingly hard to find. There is no single chapter that tells all of it. Luke and Matthew each give part of the story, and together they make the full picture. Luke focuses on Mary, the shepherds and the poor and humble who welcomed the baby. Matthew focuses on Joseph, the fulfilled prophecies and the wise men from the east. Mark and John do not describe the birth, though John opens with its meaning: the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14). This page puts the events in order and gives the King James verses for each step, so you can read the story from start to finish. The twelve verses below are grouped as the promise, the journey and the response. Some of the most famous lines, like the manger in Luke 2:7 and the angels in Luke 2:14, are quoted in the notes, and you can find all of them in the nativity Scriptures. Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24, 2026, a good night to read Luke 2:1-20 together. For short verses children can learn, see Bible verses for kids.
The promise: the angel comes to Mary and Joseph
1. Luke 1:26-27
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary."
The story begins quietly in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, six months after the angel told Zacharias that his wife Elisabeth would have a son, John the Baptist. Gabriel came to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. Espoused means legally engaged, a binding promise. God chose an ordinary young woman in an overlooked village to carry out the greatest event in history. The angel greeted her, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee (Luke 1:28).
2. Luke 1:31
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS."
Gabriel's message was clear: thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He added that the child shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest and would sit on the throne of David forever (Luke 1:32-33). Mary was being told that the long-promised King was coming, and that He would be her son. The name was chosen in heaven before He was born.
3. Luke 1:34
"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"
Mary asked a natural question: How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Her question was not unbelief but wonder. The angel answered that the Holy Ghost would come upon her, and with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37). Then Mary gave one of the most beautiful answers in Scripture: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38). Christmas began with a young woman's humble yes.
4. Matthew 1:18
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."
Matthew tells Joseph's side. Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost before they came together, and Joseph, a just man, planned to end the engagement quietly. Then an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20). Joseph obeyed right away. His quiet faithfulness protected Mary and the child.
The journey to Bethlehem and the birth
5. Luke 2:1-3
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city."
Rome ordered a census, that all the world should be taxed, and everyone went to his own city to register. Caesar Augustus thought he was counting his subjects. God was using the most powerful man on earth to move a carpenter and his wife to the exact town the prophet named, Beth-lehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2). Luke's mention of Cyrenius, governor of Syria, roots the story in real history.
6. Luke 2:4-5
"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."
The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was roughly 70 to 90 miles, likely several days on foot, with Mary being great with child. Joseph went because he was of the house and lineage of David, and Bethlehem was David's hometown. The Bible does not mention a donkey, though one is likely. What it does stress is the royal family line. The King was arriving in the City of David, though nobody there knew it yet.
7. Luke 2:6
"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."
While they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. The Bible does not say they arrived that night, and many scholars think they may have been in Bethlehem for some days. Mary brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7). The inn may have been a guest room in a crowded family home, and a manger was a feeding trough for animals.
8. Matthew 1:25
"And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."
Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Matthew stresses that the birth fulfilled Isaiah's sign of a virgin bearing a son (Matthew 1:22-23). Joseph naming the child was also important: by giving Him the name, Joseph accepted Jesus as his legal son, and that made Jesus an heir of David's royal line. See the genealogy of Jesus for that family tree.
The shepherds, Simeon and the return to Nazareth
9. Luke 2:17
"And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."
That night an angel announced the birth to shepherds in the fields, and a multitude of angels praised God, saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14). The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and found the baby lying in a manger. Then they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. The first people to hear about Christmas became the first people to share it.
10. Luke 2:18
"And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds."
All they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Shepherds were working men with little status, but God gave them the first announcement. And their report produced wonder. The next verse adds a quieter response: Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19). Christmas still calls for both: telling others with joy and pondering the mystery in quiet.
11. Luke 2:26
"And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ."
Forty days after the birth, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. An old man named Simeon was waiting there. It was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. He took the baby in his arms and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace (Luke 2:29). The prophetess Anna, eighty-four years old, also gave thanks and spoke of Him to all who were waiting.
12. Luke 2:39
"And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth."
Luke ends his Christmas story with the family returning into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. Matthew adds what came between: the wise men's visit, the angel's warning, the flight into Egypt and the return after Herod died (Matthew 2:1-23). Then the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom (Luke 2:40). The Saviour of the world grew up in an ordinary home for about thirty years.
A short prayer
Lord God, thank You for the Christmas story, which is true. Thank You for Mary's yes, for Joseph's quiet obedience, for the shepherds' joy and for Simeon's long wait rewarded. As we read these words again this Christmas, give us wonder like the shepherds and a quiet heart like Mary. Help us make known what we have seen and heard about Jesus, and let Your peace rest on our homes. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Color the Christmas story with the free Christmas Bible coloring pages · Quiz your family after the reading with the free Christmas Bible trivia · Read toward Christmas Eve with the free Advent reading plan
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Christmas story in the Bible?
Read Luke 1:26-38 (Gabriel visits Mary), Matthew 1:18-25 (the angel visits Joseph), Luke 2:1-20 (the birth, the shepherds and the angels), Luke 2:21-40 (Simeon and Anna) and Matthew 2:1-23 (the wise men and the flight to Egypt). For one family reading on Christmas Eve, Luke 2:1-20 is the classic choice. For a printable story with activities, try the free Christmas Bible coloring pages.
What is the Christmas story in Luke 2?
Luke 2:1-20 tells how Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a Roman census, how Jesus was born and laid in a manger, how an angel announced good tidings of great joy to shepherds (Luke 2:10), and how a multitude of angels praised God. The shepherds found the baby, spread the news and returned glorifying and praising God (Luke 2:20). See Bible verses about Christmas Day.
Does the Bible say Jesus was born on December 25?
No. The Bible does not give a date for Jesus' birth. Christians began celebrating it on December 25 by the fourth century, and Eastern churches that use the Julian calendar celebrate on January 7. The date matters less than the event: the Word was made flesh (John 1:14). Luke 2:8 says shepherds were out in the fields at night, which some take as a hint about the season, but it does not settle the question.
Did the wise men come to the stable?
Probably not on the same night. Luke describes the shepherds at the manger, but Matthew says the wise men found the child in a house (Matthew 2:11), and Herod later targeted boys up to two years old. Nativity scenes combine the two visits into one picture, which is a lovely tradition but not the Bible's timeline. Read more on the three wise men.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Christmas · Christmas Day · Verses for kids · Advent · Angels · Joy · Peace · Hope
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