New Testament · Luke 1:26–38Luke 2:1–20
The Birth of Jesus — Bible Story for Kids
An angel told Mary she would have a baby, God's Son. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, and shepherds came to see him.
This is a retelling for children, written by BibleKenya from the Bible passages shown on each picture. It is not a Bible translation.
God sent the to a young woman named . He said, "You will have a baby boy, and you will name him ."
God sent the to Nazareth, to a virgin named , who was engaged to . Gabriel said, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. You will have a son and will name him . He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High."
asked, "How can this be?" The said, "Nothing is impossible with God." Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant."
asked, "How can this be?" The answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you. The holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. For nothing spoken by God is impossible." Mary said, "Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word."
and travelled to the town of because the ruler wanted to count all the people.
Caesar Augustus ordered that everyone be registered. went from Nazareth in Galilee to , the city of David, because he was of the family of David. He went with , who was expecting a baby.
Bible explorer Luke does not say Mary rode a donkey; many pictures show one, but the text does not mention it.
In , baby was born. wrapped him in cloth and laid him in a , because there was no room for them in the inn.
While they were there, gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a , because there was no room for them in the inn.
Bible explorer A manger is a feeding box for animals.
Shepherds were looking after their sheep at night. An said, "Don't be afraid! I bring good news of great joy. A Saviour is born!" Then many angels praised God.
Shepherds were staying in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. An of the Lord stood by them, and the of the Lord shone around them. "Don't be afraid," the angel said, "I bring you good news of great joy. Today in David's city a Saviour is born to you, who is the Lord." Suddenly many angels were praising God: "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace."
The shepherds hurried to and found baby in the . They told everyone what the had said!
The shepherds hurried and found , and the baby lying in the . They told everyone what had been said about this child, and all who heard were amazed. Mary kept all these things and thought about them in her heart.
The end of the story
Read it in the Bible
This is the Bible text itself, from the version shown. Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition
Luke 1:26–38 WEB
26Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!” 29But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. 30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. 36Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” 38Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Luke 2:1–20 WEB
1Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant. 6While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7She 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. 8There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” 15When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
Who is in the story?
Words to learn
- Angel
- An angel is a messenger from God. The angel Gabriel told Mary she would have a baby named Jesus.
- Bethlehem
- Bethlehem is a small town. King David was born there, and Jesus was born there too.
- Glory
- Glory means God's great brightness and greatness. When Jesus was born, the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds.
- Manger
- A manger is a box that animals eat from. Baby Jesus was laid in a manger when he was born.
- Messiah
- Messiah means "the chosen king God would send". Christ means the same thing. The Bible says Jesus is the Messiah.
What can we learn from this passage?
The angel called the birth of Jesus "good news of great joy" for all the people. God's Son was born in a humble place, and the first to hear were shepherds in the fields. Luke 2:10–12