The following tables are organized by movement numbers. There are two major systems of numbering the movements of Messiah: the historic Novello edition of 1959 (which is based on earlier editions and contains 53 movements), and the Bärenreiter edition of 1965 in the Hallische Händel-Ausgabe. Not counting some short recitatives as separate movements, it has 47 movements. The Novello number (Nov) is given first, then the Bärenreiter number (Bär).

Part I      Main article: Messiah Part I

Nov/Bär Title Form Bible source Notes
1 Sinfony      
Scene 1
2 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people Acc. T Isaiah 40:1–3 Isaiah, a new Exodus
3 Ev’ry valley shall be exalted Air T Isaiah 40:4  
4 And the glory, the glory of the Lord Chorus Isaiah 40:5  
Scene 2
5 Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts
Behold, I will send my messenger
Acc. B Haggai 2:6–7
Malachi 3:1
Haggai, splendor of the temple
Malachi, the coming messenger
6 But who may abide the day of His coming Air A Malachi 3:2  
7 And He shall purify chorus Malachi 3:3  
Scene 3
8 Behold, a virgin shall conceive Rec. A Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23
Isaiah, virgin birth, quoted by Matthew
9 / 8 O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
Arise, shine
Air A Chorus Isaiah 40:9
Isaiah 60:1
 
10 / 9 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth Acc. B Isaiah 60:2–3  
11 / 10 The people that walked in darkness Air B Isaiah 9:2  
12 / 11 For unto us a Child is born Chorus Isaiah 9:6  
Scene 4
13 / 12 Pifa Pastorale    
14 There were shepherds abiding in the field Rec. S Luke 2:8 Gospel of Luke, Annunciation to the shepherds
15 / 13 And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them Acc. S Luke 2:9  
  And the angel said unto them Rec. S Luke 2:9–10  
16 / 14 And suddenly there was with the angel Acc. S Luke 2:13  
17 / 15 Glory to God in the highest Chorus Luke 2:14  
Scene 5
18 / 16 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion Air S Zechariah 9:9–10 Zechariah, God's providential dealings
19 Then shall the eyes of the blind open'd Rec. A Isaiah 35:5–6 Isaiah, oracle of salvation for Israel
20 / 17 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd
Come unto Him, all ye that labour
Duet A S Isaiah 40:11
Matthew 11:28–29
Isaiah, the Shepherd
Matthew, praise of the Father
21 / 18 His yoke is easy, His burthen is light Chorus Matthew 11:30  

Part II       Main article: Messiah Part II

No N / B Title Form Bible source Notes
Scene 1
22 / 19 Behold the Lamb of God Chorus John 1:29 Testimony of John the Baptist
23 / 20 He was despised
He gave his back to his smiters
Air A Isaiah 53:3
Isaiah 50:6
Songs of the suffering servant 4, 3
24 / 21 Surely, He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows Chorus Isaiah 53:4–5 Man of Sorrows, 4 continued
25 / 22 And with His stripes we are healed Chorus Isaiah 53:5  
26 / 23 All we like sheep, have gone astray Chorus Isaiah 53:6  
27 / 24 All they that see Him, laugh Him to scorn Acc. T Psalms 22:7 Psalm 22
28 / 25 He trusted in God Chorus Psalms 22:8  
29 / 26 Thy rebuke hath broken His heart Acc. T Psalms 69:20 Psalm 69
30 / 27 Behold, and see if there be any sorrow Arioso T Lamentations 1:12 Book of Lamentations
Scene 2
31 / 28 He was cut off out of the land of the living Acc. T Isaiah 53:8 Man of Sorrows
32 / 29 But Thou didst not leave his soul in hell Air T Psalms 16:10 Psalm 16
Scene 3
33 / 30 Lift up your heads Chorus Psalms 24:7–10 Psalm 24
Scene 4
34 Unto which of the angels said he at all time Rec. T Hebrews 1:5 Epistle to the Hebrews
35 / 31 Let all the angels of God worship Him Chorus Hebrews 1:6  
Scene 5
36 / 32 Thou art gone up on high Air B (or A) Psalms 68:18 Psalm 68
37 / 33 The Lord gave the word Chorus Psalms 68:11  
38 / 34 How beautiful are the feet of Him Duet AI AII Chorus Isaiah 52:7
Romans 10:15
 
39 / 35 Their sound is gone out into all lands Arioso T Romans 10:18
Psalms 19:4
Psalm 19, The glory of God
Epistle to the Romans
Scene 6
40 / 36 Why do the nations so furiously rage together Air B Psalms 2:1–2 Psalm 2
41 / 37 Let us break their bonds asunder Chorus Psalms 2:3  
42 He that dwelleth in heaven Rec. T Psalms 2:4  
Scene 7
43 / 38 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron Air T Psalms 2:9  
44 / 39 Hallelujah Chorus Revelation 19:6,16
Revelation 11:15
Book of Revelation

Part III            Main article: Messiah Part III

No N–B Title Form Bible source Notes
Scene 1
45 / 40 I know that my Redeemer liveth Air S Job 19:25–26 Book of Job, Messianic anticipation
46 / 41 Since by man came death Chorus 1 Corinthians 15:21–22 Paul on the Resurrection of the dead
Scene 2
47 / 42 Behold, I tell you a mystery Acc. B 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 Resurrection of the body
48 / 43 The trumpet shall sound
and the dead shall be rais'd
Air B 1 Corinthians 15:52–53  
Scene 3
49 Then shall be brought to pass Rec. A 1 Corinthians 15:54 Victory over death
50 / 44 O death, where is thy sting? Duet A T 1 Corinthians 15:55–56  
51 / 45 But thanks be to God Chorus 1 Corinthians 15:57  
52 / 46 If God be for us, who can be against us Air S Romans 8:31,33–34 Paul's Assurance of salvation
Scene 4
53 / 47 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain Chorus Revelation 5:12–13 The creatures in heaven give praise
  Amen Chorus    

Alternative movements

Handel revised the work several times for specific performances. The alternative movements are part of the Bärenreiter edition, the Novello numbers are given in parentheses.

No. Title Form
6a. But who may abide Air B
  But who may abide Rec. A
(15) 13a. But lo, the angel of the Lord Arioso S
(18) 16a. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion Air S
(19) Then shall the eyes of the blind Rec. S
(20) 17a. He shall feed His flock Air S
(36) 32a. Thou art gone up on high Air B
(36) 32b. Thou art gone up on high Air S
(38) 34a. How beautiful are the feet Air S
(38) 34b. How beautiful are the feet Air A
(39) 35a. Their sound is gone out Chorus
(43) Thou shalt break them Rec. T