A Dramatic Reading of Luke 2:1-20 Using 3 Voices for Dec 24 or 25
This famous Christmas Eve scripture passage comes to new life using a technique of multi-part readers phasing in and out with each other. It is helpful to practice this technique together before presenting it in worship.
NIV Version:
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: The Birth of Jesus
Reader 1: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
Reader 2 & Reader 1: (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
Reader 2: And everyone went to his own town to register.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
Reader 3: to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
Reader 1 & Reader 3: He went there to register with Mary,
Reader 1: who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
Reader 2 & Reader 1: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
Reader 2: and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: The Shepherds and the Angels
Reader 3: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
Reader 1 & Reader 3: An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
Reader 1: and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
Reader 1 & Reader 2: and they were terrified.
Reader 2: But the angel said to them,
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Reader 3: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
Reader 1 & Reader 3: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Reader 1: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
Reader 1 & Reader 2: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,
Reader 2: which the Lord has told us about.”
Reader 2 & Reader 3: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph,
Reader 3: and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Reader 3 & Reader 1: When they had seen him,
Reader 1: they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
Reader 1 & Reader 2: and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Reader 2: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: The shepherds returned,
Reader 3: glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: which were just as they had been told.
KJ Version:
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: The Birth of Jesus
Reader 1: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Reader 2 & Reader 1: (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Reader 2: And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,
Reader 3: unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David)
Reader 1 & Reader 3: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Reader 1: And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Reader 2 & Reader 1: And she brought forth her firstborn son,
Reader 2: and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: The Shepherds and the Angels
Reader 3: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Reader 1 & Reader 3: And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
Reader 1: and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:
Reader 1 & Reader 2: and they were so afraid.
Reader 2: And the angel said unto them,
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Reader 3: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Reader 1 & Reader 3: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Reader 1: And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
Reader 1 & Reader 2: Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass,
Reader 2: which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph,
Reader 3: and the babe lying in a manger.
Reader 3 & Reader 1: And when they had seen it,
Reader 1: they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Reader 1 & Reader 2: And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Reader 2: But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: And the shepherds returned,
Reader 3: glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen,
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: as it was told unto them.
Note – All scripture is from either the KJV or the NIV (Zondervan Publishing)
