Christmas Story Readings and Queries
Bible Quotes from English Standard Version
Quaker Quotes from the Quaker Bible Index, Earlham College (http://esr.earlham.edu/qbi/main.htm)
Matthew Chapter 1 The Birth of Jesus Christ
Matt 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been
betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her
quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her
is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his
people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel"
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord
commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called
his name Jesus.
Chapter 2
The Visit of the Wise Men
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men
from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we
saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he
inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is
written by the prophet:
6 " 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for
from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.' "
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertai