Christmas Bible Readings: The Christmas Story in Order (2026)
The Christmas story in the Bible is in Matthew 1 to 2 and Luke 1 to 2, and many churches add John 1:1-18 at Christmas. Read Luke 2:1-20 on Christmas Eve and John 1:1-14 on Christmas Day. To keep going, read the story in order over the 12 Days of Christmas (December 25 to January 5), then begin a January plan.
This guide sets out Christmas Bible readings in story order, with choices for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and a 12-day schedule with 2026 dates. The reading list links each chapter in full, so you can read every passage free in your browser. A reference like Luke 2:1-20 means the book of Luke, chapter 2, verses 1 to 20.
Where the Christmas Story Is in the Bible
Two of the four Gospels, the books that tell the life of Jesus, describe his birth: Matthew in chapters 1 to 2 and Luke in chapters 1 to 2.
The other two Gospels have no birth scene. Mark, the shortest Gospel, begins with John the Baptist and the adult Jesus (Mark 1:1-11). John opens with the Word becoming flesh (John 1:1-18), a passage many churches read at Christmas.
Not sure which Gospel to read first after the holidays? That guide compares all four.
Matthew's Account: Joseph, the Wise Men and Egypt
The Christmas story in Matthew opens with Jesus' family line (Matthew 1:1-17). Then it follows Joseph, who is told in a dream to take Mary as his wife (1:18-25). Chapter 2 brings the wise men, King Herod, the escape to Egypt and the move to Nazareth.
Matthew often points back to the prophets. In 1:22-23 he quotes words found in Isaiah 7:14. In 2:4-6 the chief priests and scribes answer Herod with words drawn from Micah 5:2, which Matthew adapts rather than quoting word for word.
Matthew lists three gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) but never says how many wise men came (Matthew 2:1-12).
Luke's Account: Mary, Elizabeth, the Shepherds and the Temple
Luke starts with the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth, who learn they will have a son, John (Luke 1:5-25). The angel Gabriel then visits Mary (1:26-38), and Mary visits Elizabeth and sings a song of praise (1:39-56). Chapter 1 ends with John's birth (1:57-80).
Chapter 2 holds the scenes most people know: the census, the birth and the shepherds (2:1-20). Then come the naming of Jesus and the temple scenes with Simeon and Anna (2:21-40), and a short story of Jesus at twelve (2:41-52).
The two accounts tell different parts of the story. Readers and traditions fit them together in slightly different ways, and this guide simply puts them in an order for reading.
The Christmas Story in Order: 11 Readings
Read these passages one at a time, in this order, and the nativity story in the Bible unfolds from promise to childhood. The first reference to each chapter links to the full chapter.
- John 1:1-18: The Word becomes flesh. John's opening describes who the child is before any birth scene.
- Isaiah 9:1-7 and Micah 5:2-5: A promised child and Bethlehem. Two prophets speak to Israel and Judah in their own time about a coming ruler, and Christians have long read both passages as pointing to Jesus.
- Luke 1:5-25: Zechariah hears the news. An angel tells an old priest that his wife will have a son.
- Luke 1:26-38: Gabriel visits Mary. Mary hears that she will have a son and is to name him Jesus.
- Luke 1:39-56: Mary visits Elizabeth. The two women meet, and Mary sings a song of praise.
- Luke 1:57-80: John is born. Zechariah names his son John and praises God.
- Matthew 1:18-25: Joseph's dream. An angel tells Joseph to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus.
- Luke 2:1-20: The birth and the shepherds. Jesus is born in Bethlehem, and an angel sends shepherds to find him.
- Luke 2:21-40: The naming, Simeon and Anna. Jesus is named, then brought to the temple, where Simeon and Anna welcome him.
- Matthew 2:1-23: Wise men, Egypt and Nazareth. Wise men follow a star, Herod plots, and the family flees to Egypt before settling in Nazareth.
- Luke 2:41-52: Jesus at twelve. On a family trip to Jerusalem, the boy Jesus stays behind, and his parents find him in the temple.
This is one common reading order. The Gospels do not give a single combined timeline, and harmonies (books that blend the accounts) place some events a little differently. Matthew 2:11 says the wise men came into the house and saw the young child, so some readers place their visit later, while nativity scenes traditionally show them with the shepherds.
Christmas Eve Bible Readings
One Reading for the Table: Luke 2:1-20
If you read only one passage on Christmas Eve, make it Luke 2:1-20. It is twenty verses long and easy to read aloud in one sitting.
A Roman census sends Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, where Mary gives birth. That night an angel appears to shepherds in the fields nearby.
"Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Messiah, the Lord."
Luke 2:10-11 (NHEB, excerpt)
An angel speaks these words to shepherds keeping watch over their flock at night. The shepherds then hurry to Bethlehem and tell others what they heard.
A Longer Candlelight Sequence
For a gathering or a quiet evening, a longer Christmas Eve scripture reading can use six short passages in order:
- Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
- Micah 5:2
- Luke 1:26-38
- Luke 2:1-20
- Matthew 2:1-12
- John 1:1-14
King's College, Cambridge has held A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve since 1918, first broadcast in 1928. At home, you can sing or play a carol between passages.
Reading Aloud With Family
- Split the passage. Give each reader a few verses.
- Keep it short for young children. Luke 2:8-14 covers the shepherds and the angels in seven verses.
- Ask one simple question afterward. What happened? Who was afraid? What did they do next?
For year-round ideas, see how to start a family devotional.
Christmas Day Bible Readings
For Christmas Day, many readers turn to John 1:1-14.
"The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 1:14 (NHEB)
John begins his Gospel before Bethlehem. Instead of a birth scene, he opens at the beginning of all things and describes who the child is. To take it slowly, try the four steps of lectio divina.
Many churches follow a lectionary, a fixed schedule of Bible readings for each service. The Revised Common Lectionary, used by many Protestant churches, gives three sets of Christmas readings that repeat every year:
| Service | Old Testament | Psalm | Letter | Gospel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proper I (dated December 24) | Isaiah 9:2-7 | Psalm 96 | Titus 2:11-14 | Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) |
| Proper II (December 25) | Isaiah 62:6-12 | Psalm 97 | Titus 3:4-7 | Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 |
| Proper III (December 25) | Isaiah 52:7-10 | Psalm 98 | Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) | John 1:1-14 |
Source: the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, which dates Proper I December 24, 2026, and Proper II and Proper III December 25, 2026. Verses in parentheses are optional.
The Catholic Church celebrates four Christmas Masses, each with its own Gospel. The Vigil Mass reads Matthew 1:1-25 (or 1:18-25), the Mass during the Night reads Luke 2:1-14, and the Mass at Dawn reads Luke 2:15-20. The Mass during the Day reads Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1-6 and John 1:1-18 (or the short form, John 1:1-5, 9-14).
These are what each lectionary assigns, and any of them makes a fine reading at home.
A 12 Days of Christmas Bible Reading Plan (December 25 to January 5)
Many churches keep the Twelve Days of Christmas from December 25 through January 5, with Epiphany traditionally on January 6. Some, including the Roman Catholic Church, keep the Christmas season a little longer, and churches that follow the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas on January 7 (see the Christian Resource Institute's guide to the Christmas season).
One short reading a day, with dates for 2026 to 2027:
| Day | Date | Reading | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Dec 25 | John 1:1-18 | The Word becomes flesh |
| 2 | Sat, Dec 26 | Isaiah 9:1-7; Micah 5:2-5 | The promised child and Bethlehem |
| 3 | Sun, Dec 27 | Luke 1:1-25 | Zechariah and the promise of John |
| 4 | Mon, Dec 28 | Luke 1:26-38 | Gabriel visits Mary |
| 5 | Tue, Dec 29 | Luke 1:39-56 | Mary visits Elizabeth |
| 6 | Wed, Dec 30 | Luke 1:57-80 | John is born |
| 7 | Thu, Dec 31 | Matthew 1:1-25 | Jesus' family line and Joseph's dream |
| 8 | Fri, Jan 1 | Luke 2:1-21 | The birth, the shepherds, and the name given on the eighth day |
| 9 | Sat, Jan 2 | Luke 2:22-40 | Simeon and Anna in the temple |
| 10 | Sun, Jan 3 | Matthew 2:1-12 | The wise men |
| 11 | Mon, Jan 4 | Matthew 2:13-23 | Egypt and the move to Nazareth |
| 12 | Tue, Jan 5 | Luke 2:41-52 | Jesus at twelve in the temple |
| Epiphany | Wed, Jan 6 | Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 | The readings the Revised Common Lectionary pairs with Matthew 2:1-12 |
Every day is 25 verses or fewer. The longest days are Luke 1:1-25 and Matthew 1:1-25.
January 1 is the eighth day of Christmas, and the Day 8 reading ends where Luke says Jesus was named on the eighth day:
"When eight days were fulfilled to circumcise him, his name was called Jesus"
Luke 2:21 (NHEB, excerpt)
For Epiphany on January 6, 2027, the Revised Common Lectionary sets the wise men's story beside Isaiah 60:1-6 and Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14. These Epiphany scripture readings close the season with nations and kings coming to the light.
Coming from an Advent plan? If Advent already took you through Isaiah 9, Micah 5, Luke 1 and Matthew 1, Days 2 to 7 are a second reading. Read them again slowly, or go from Day 1 straight to Day 8 (Luke 2:1-21) and continue to Epiphany.
Missed a day? Read today's passage and keep going, or read two short ones together. Your next reading matters more than the day you missed.
After Epiphany: Carry the Habit Into January
A January plan does not have to start on January 1. It can begin on January 7 or any day after.
BibleMate's web reader is free, needs no account and has no ads, and it offers eight reading plans. Its reading calendar puts your plan on dates starting from your first completed day, so a plan begun on January 7 is simply Day 1, not behind. Progress is saved in that browser only.
- Brand new to the Bible: the 14-Day Bible Introduction covers 33 chapters in 14 days, 2 to 4 a day.
- Want to stay with the Gospels: the Gospels First Plan runs 365 days, with the Gospels and Acts in the first month and 5 chapters most days.
- Ready for the whole Bible: the Classic 365-Day Plan (1 to 6 chapters a day) or the 2-Year Relaxed Pace (2 to 4 chapters a day).
For more help choosing, compare a Bible reading plan for beginners, a one year Bible reading plan and seven plan options for different schedules. To turn one season into a steady routine, read how to start a daily Bible reading habit.
In Western churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027, and a Lent reading plan can carry the habit toward Easter.
Begin Your Christmas Bible Readings With One Passage
There is no need to plan the whole season tonight. Start with Luke 2:1-20, on Christmas Eve or this evening, and take the next reading tomorrow, one day at a time.
BibleMate is on the App Store for iPhone and on Google Play for Android, free to download with optional in-app purchases. Prefer your browser? The free web reader needs no account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good Bible readings for Christmas Day?
Good Bible readings for Christmas Day include John 1:1-14, Luke 2:8-20, Isaiah 9:2-7 and Isaiah 52:7-10. These are the passages the major church lectionaries assign for Christmas. If you have room for only one, Luke 2:1-20 tells the birth itself, and John 1:1-14 describes who the child is.
What is the Gospel reading on Christmas Day?
It depends on the service. In the Revised Common Lectionary, Luke 2 is the Gospel for Proper I (dated December 24) and Proper II (December 25), and John 1:1-14 for Proper III (December 25). At Catholic Masses, the Night and Dawn Masses read Luke 2, and the Mass during the Day reads John 1:1-18.
Where is the Christmas story in the Bible?
The Christmas story is in Matthew 1 to 2 and Luke 1 to 2. The birth itself is told in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20, and the wise men appear in Matthew 2:1-12. Mark has no birth story, and many churches add John 1:1-18, where the Word becomes flesh.
What are some Christmas scriptures?
Five well-known Christmas story Bible verses are Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, Luke 2:10-11, Matthew 2:1-2 and John 1:14. Each one makes more sense in its full passage, so read Isaiah 9:1-7, Micah 5:2-5, Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-12 and John 1:1-18 rather than the single verse.
What book of the Bible should you read at Christmas?
Luke has the fullest birth account, in Luke 1 to 2, and Matthew 1 to 2 adds Joseph and the wise men. Readings before Christmas usually follow Advent, which ends on December 24. The 12-day schedule above starts on December 25, and if you are coming from an Advent plan, you can go from Day 1 straight to Day 8.
