The Christmas story is mainly found in the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke , especially Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2, which tell about Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph, the manger, shepherds, and wise men.

Main Bible passages

  • Luke 1–2
    • Luke 1:26–38: Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will give birth to Jesus.
* Luke 2:1–20: Journey to Bethlehem, birth of Jesus, angels appearing to shepherds, and the shepherds visiting the manger.
  • Matthew 1–2
    • Matthew 1:18–25: Angel appears to Joseph in a dream, explaining Mary’s miraculous pregnancy and naming the child Jesus.
* Matthew 2:1–12: Wise men (Magi) from the east follow the star and bring gifts to the child Jesus.

* Matthew 2:13–23: Flight to Egypt and return to Nazareth after Herod’s death.

Other helpful Christmas-related verses

These verses are often read at Christmas because they speak about the coming of Christ, even if they are not narrative “story” passages:

  • Isaiah 7:14 – Prophecy about a virgin giving birth to a son called Immanuel.
  • Isaiah 9:6–7 – Prophecy about a child called “Mighty God” and “Prince of Peace.”
  • John 1:1–14 – Theological description of Jesus as the Word who “became flesh and dwelt among us,” pointing to the incarnation celebrated at Christmas.

Simple table of key Christmas passages

[7] [3] [3] [7] [7] [5]
Theme Where in the Bible What it describes
Announcement to Mary Luke 1:26–38Angel Gabriel tells Mary she will bear Jesus.
Birth in Bethlehem Luke 2:1–7Journey to Bethlehem and Jesus laid in a manger.
Shepherds and angels Luke 2:8–20Angels announce the Savior’s birth; shepherds visit Jesus.
Joseph’s dream Matthew 1:18–25Angel reassures Joseph and tells him to name the child Jesus.
Wise men (Magi) Matthew 2:1–12Magi follow the star and bring gifts to Jesus.
Flight to Egypt Matthew 2:13–23Family escapes Herod and later returns to live in Nazareth.
**TL;DR:** If you want to read the classic “Christmas story” straight from the Bible, start with **Luke 2:1–20** and **Matthew 1–2** , then add prophecies like **Isaiah 7:14** and **Isaiah 9:6–7** for a fuller picture of why Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.