The First Christmas
What is the Christmas story?
The Christmas story is the Christian story of the birth of Jesus, told in the Bible by two of the four Gospels, Matthew and Luke. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, where Mary gave birth and laid her baby in a manger. Angels brought the news to shepherds in the fields, and wise men followed a star to bring him gifts.
As the Bible tells itLuke tells how Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered, taking Mary, who was expecting her baby. In Bethlehem the baby was born, and Mary wrapped him and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
That night angels brought the good news to shepherds, who hurried to Bethlehem and found the child, just as they had been told. Matthew tells of wise men from the east who followed a star to Bethlehem and gave the child gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The Bible never says what day or time of year Jesus was born. The pages of this chapter tell each part in full: where the story is in the Bible, who the wise men were, and the Christmas story for children, read aloud.
As the Bible tells it
In this chapter
- Where is the Christmas story in the Bible?7 minAs the Bible tells it
- Who were the wise men? The magi of the Christmas story7 minAs the Bible tells it
- The Christmas story for children4 minAs the Bible tells it
Where our facts come from
- World English Bible, Luke 2, Luke 2:1–7 (the census, the journey to Bethlehem, the birth, the manger); Luke 2:8–20 (the shepherds and the angels)
- World English Bible, Matthew 2, Matthew 2:1–11 (the wise men, the star, the gifts)
- World English Bible, Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2, Matthew 2:1 and Luke 1:5 (in the days of King Herod); neither gives a day or season