Bible Verses for the Christmas Story: Luke 2 and Matthew 2 in Order
The Christmas story in the Bible comes primarily from two books: Luke 2 and Matthew 2. Luke gives the birth narrative with the manger, the shepherds, and the angels. Matthew gives the visit of the Magi, the star, and the flight to Egypt. Together, they form what most people picture when they imagine the first Christmas. All text below is from the KJV (King James Version) or WEB (World English Bible), both public domain.
If you want a verse for a card or a family reading, start with Luke 2:11 or Isaiah 9:6. Use our random Bible verse generator to explore more Scripture any time.
Where Does the Christmas Story Come From?
Most of the nativity story comes from the Gospel of Luke, written around 60 to 80 AD. Matthew offers a parallel account with different details, centering on Joseph's perspective and the visit of the Magi. The prophetic backdrop comes from Isaiah and Micah, written centuries earlier. No single book of the Bible contains the complete story most people know. It is assembled from these four sources: Isaiah, Micah, Luke, and Matthew.
Luke 2: The Birth Narrative
Luke 2 is the most familiar portion of the Christmas story. It opens with a census under Augustus Caesar, moves to Bethlehem, and ends with the shepherds returning from the manger.
The Journey to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5, KJV)
Luke 2:1-5 (KJV): "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar 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. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, 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 census forces Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David. Luke grounds the story in historical time and place from the first line.
The Birth (Luke 2:6-7, KJV)
Luke 2:6-7 (KJV): "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she 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."
This is the center of the Christmas story. Two verses. No drama added. The manger appears because the inn was full, not as a symbol Luke calls out explicitly. The simplicity is part of its weight.
The Angels and the Shepherds (Luke 2:8-14, KJV)
Luke 2:8-14 (KJV): "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Luke 2:11 is the verse most commonly quoted on Christmas cards and in family readings. The angel names Jesus as Saviour, Christ, and Lord in a single sentence. The sign given to the shepherds is the same detail Luke already told the reader: swaddling clothes and a manger.
The Shepherds Visit (Luke 2:15-20, KJV)
Luke 2:15-16 (KJV): "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."
Luke 2:17-20 (KJV): "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."
Mary ponders. The shepherds praise. Luke records both responses, without resolving the tension between quiet wonder and loud proclamation.
Matthew 2: The Magi and the Flight to Egypt
Matthew's account begins after the birth, with wise men arriving from the east. Matthew's focus is on Joseph, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the threat from Herod.
The Visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-2, KJV)
Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV): "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."
Matthew never says there were three wise men. He records three gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) in verse 11, which is where the number three traditionally comes from. The Magi are identified only as coming from the east and following a star.
The Star and the House (Matthew 2:9-11, KJV)
Matthew 2:9-11 (KJV): "When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
Matthew says house, not manger. The Magi likely arrive weeks or months after the birth. The scene is calmer than the shepherds' night visit.
The Flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14, WEB)
Matthew 2:13-14 (WEB): "Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.' He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt."
Matthew's Christmas story has a shadow across it that Luke's does not. Herod's threat, the flight to Egypt, and the massacre of the innocents in verses 16 to 18 are part of Matthew's account. He frames the story through the lens of exile and rescue.
The Prophecies Behind the Story
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV): "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Isaiah wrote this roughly 700 years before the birth in Bethlehem. This verse is read as a Christmas prophecy by Christians and appears in Handel's Messiah.
Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)
Isaiah 7:14 (KJV): "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Matthew quotes this directly in Matthew 1:23 when he describes the birth. Immanuel means "God with us" in Hebrew.
Micah 5:2 (KJV)
Micah 5:2 (KJV): "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
This verse names Bethlehem specifically as the birthplace. Matthew quotes it in 2:5-6 when the chief priests answer Herod's question about where the Christ would be born.
Best Verses to Read Aloud for a Family Christmas
For a short family reading, these six verses carry the whole arc of the story:
- Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) - the prophecy
- Luke 2:6-7 (KJV) - the birth
- Luke 2:11 (KJV) - the angel's announcement
- Luke 2:14 (KJV) - glory to God
- Matthew 2:11 (KJV) - the Magi's worship
- John 1:14 (KJV) - "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us"
For topical collections, see Christmas Bible verses and Advent readings on this site.
Key Takeaways
- The Christmas story is spread across Luke 2, Matthew 2, Isaiah, and Micah, not in one book.
- Luke focuses on Mary, the shepherds, and the manger. Matthew focuses on Joseph, the Magi, and the star.
- Isaiah 9:6 and Micah 5:2 are the two oldest prophecies directly quoted in the nativity accounts.
- Luke 2:11 is the verse most used for Christmas cards and readings.
- For a family reading, six verses from these four books can tell the full story in under five minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book in the Bible tells the Christmas story? The Christmas story comes mainly from two books: Luke 2 and Matthew 2. Luke provides the birth narrative with the manger and shepherds. Matthew provides the Magi, the star, and the flight to Egypt. The prophecies that frame both accounts come from Isaiah and Micah in the Old Testament.
Where does the nativity story come from in the Bible? The nativity story comes from Luke 2 (the birth, shepherds, and angels) and Matthew 2 (the Magi and the star). The word "nativity" refers to the birth, which Luke describes in verses 6 and 7. Matthew picks up the story after the birth, with the wise men arriving from the east.
What are the best Bible verses for Christmas? Luke 2:11 ("For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"), Isaiah 9:6, and Luke 2:14 ("Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men") are the most used Christmas verses. John 1:14 is a strong theological anchor: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."
Where in the Bible can I find information about the birth of Jesus? The main birth accounts are Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-2:23. Luke gives the most detail about the night of the birth. Matthew gives the most detail about the events that followed: the visit of the Magi, Herod's reaction, and the family's time in Egypt. Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2 are the Old Testament prophecies tied most directly to the birth.
Are there Bible verses for the Christmas story suitable for children? Luke 2:11 and Luke 2:14 are short, clear, and easy for children to follow. For a longer reading with kids, Luke 2:1-20 in the WEB (World English Bible) uses modern sentence structure while staying in the public domain. The Bible verses for kids page on this site has additional suggestions for shorter verses.