
The story of a fourth wise man has been a part of Christian tradition for a long time, although it is not mentioned in the Bible or any Gospel. The story of the fourth wise man, Artaban, was written by Henry Van Dyke in 1895 and has been reprinted many times since. Artaban is said to have brought three precious jewels to Jesus, but missed the other wise men. He spent 33 years in pursuit of Jesus, helping others along the way with his gifts. Finally, he met Jesus after the resurrection and was assured that his gifts had been accepted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the fourth wise man | Artaban |
| Number of gifts | 3 |
| Nature of gifts | Precious jewels |
| Names of the gifts | Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby |
| Story written by | Henry Van Dyke |
| Year of publishing | 1895 |
| Story dramatized as a play | Yes |
| Year of play | 1951, 1952, 1956, 1963 |
| Televised adaptations | Yes |
| Year of televised adaptation | 1953, 1957, 1960, 1985 |
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What You'll Learn

Artaban, the fourth Wise Man
However, Artaban never made it to Bethlehem and never met Jesus. Along his journey, he met many poor and distressed people, and he gave them the treasures that he had intended to present to the King of Kings. He used a pearl to redeem a young woman who had been enslaved and another pearl to save a child who was about to be killed by a soldier of King Herod. Artaban also stopped to help a dying man, which made him late to meet the caravan of the other three wise men. Because he missed them, he couldn't cross the desert alone, so he was forced to sell one of his treasures to buy camels and supplies.
Artaban spent 33 years in pursuit of Jesus but never found him. Finally, on Easter Sunday, an old and dying Artaban encountered the new King, who brought peace to his life. Jesus assured Artaban that he had already given him his gifts and that they had been accepted.
The story of Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, has been dramatized as a play and adapted for television and film. It is based on Henry Van Dyke's classic, "The Story of the Other Wise Man", a fictional story set in Biblical times.
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Artaban's three precious gifts
Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, brought three precious gifts with him to give to Jesus. These gifts included a pearl, a sapphire, and a ruby. However, Artaban was unable to meet with the other Magi at the scheduled time of departure, so he set out on his own to find Jesus.
During his journey, Artaban encountered many poor and distressed people, and he gave away his precious gifts to help those in need. He gave the pearl to an old dying man, using it to redeem a young woman enslaved and to save a child who was about to be killed by a soldier of King Herod. Artaban's acts of generosity and compassion embody the core Christian values of love and charity, demonstrating that the true spirit of Christmas lies in everyday acts of kindness rather than the exchange of material gifts.
Artaban spent 33 years in pursuit of Jesus, never finding Him. Finally, as an old and dying man, he encountered the new King, bringing peace to his life. Saddened that he no longer had a gift to present, Jesus assured Artaban that he had already given and that his gifts had been accepted. Artaban's story teaches us that it is through acts of service and compassion that we discover the true meaning of life and connect with the divine.
The story of Artaban, as told by Henry Van Dyke in "The Story of the Other Wise Man", is a fictional account set in Biblical times. It adds to and expands upon the traditional narrative of the three Wise Men, emphasizing the impact of Artaban's three precious gifts and his lifelong search for Jesus.
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Artaban's journey to find Jesus
Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, is a figure in Christian tradition who is not mentioned in any Gospel. Artaban's journey to find Jesus is a story of perseverance and generosity.
Artaban, a priest of the Magi from Persia, saw a sign in the heavens that he believed proclaimed the birth of a King among the Jews. Like the other three Wise Men, he set out on a journey to find the newborn ruler, carrying three precious jewels as gifts: a pearl, a sapphire, and a ruby. However, Artaban missed the scheduled departure time with the other Magi and had to set out on his own.
During his 33-year search for Jesus, Artaban encountered many people in need. Despite having nothing left to present to the Messiah, he used his jewels to help those he met along the way. He gave a pearl to an old dying man, redeemed a young enslaved woman with a pearl, and saved a child about to be killed by a soldier of King Herod. Artaban sold one of his treasures to buy camels and supplies, demonstrating his commitment to his journey.
Artaban's pursuit of Jesus finally ended when he encountered the new King on Easter Sunday. Despite being saddened that he had no gift to bring, Jesus assured him that he had already given and accepted his gifts. Artaban's story is a testament to his faith and generosity, and he is considered a role model for his selfless acts of kindness.
The story of Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, has been popularized by Henry Van Dyke's classic "The Story of the Other Wise Man," published in 1895. It has been adapted into plays, television shows, and a movie, with actors such as Martin Sheen portraying Artaban.
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Artaban's acts of kindness
Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, is a role model for all. He brought three precious jewels—a pearl, a sapphire, and a ruby—to present to Jesus. However, he was unable to meet the other Magi at the scheduled time of their departure. Artaban then set out on his own journey to find Jesus.
Artaban's story is one of generosity and selflessness. He gave away all his possessions to help those in dire need, even though it meant that he no longer had anything to present to Jesus when he finally found him. Artaban's story is a reminder that every gesture of generosity made towards those who are poor and unhappy is a gesture of love towards Jesus.
Artaban's pursuit of Jesus lasted 33 years, and he finally encountered the new King on Easter Sunday, bringing peace to his life. Jesus assured Artaban that he had already given and that his gifts had been accepted. Artaban's story is a powerful message of true faith and the meaning of life with God.
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Artaban's encounter with Jesus
Artaban, the fourth wise man, brought three precious jewels—a pearl, a sapphire, and a ruby—to present to Jesus. However, he was unable to meet with the other three wise men at the scheduled time of their departure, so he set out alone to find Jesus. Artaban spent 33 years travelling far and wide in search of the King, helping those in need along the way.
Artaban's journey eventually led him to Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. Now an elderly man, weary and discouraged, he still held onto his final gift, the pearl, which he intended to offer as a ransom for Jesus' life. However, along the way, he encountered a young woman about to be sold into slavery. Deeply moved by her plight, Artaban gave away his last treasure to secure her freedom.
At that moment, an earthquake shook the city, and Artaban was fatally injured by a falling roof tile. As he lay dying, he heard the voice of Jesus, who assured him that every act of love and mercy he had performed for others was done for Him. Artaban's pursuit of Jesus ended as he finally encountered the new King, bringing peace to his life.
Artaban's story, though not mentioned in the Bible, embodies the core Christian values of love and charity. It teaches that caring for the vulnerable and letting compassion guide our actions is the truest way to express God's love, even when the path is difficult or uncertain. Artaban, through his acts of service, became a role model for all, demonstrating that every gesture of generosity made towards those in need is a gesture of love towards Jesus.
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Frequently asked questions
The fourth wise man was Artaban, a priest of the Magi and one of the Medes from Persia.
Artaban brought three precious jewels to give to Jesus but missed the other wise men at the scheduled time of departure. He spent the next 33 years in pursuit of Jesus, helping people in need along the way with his gifts.
Yes, there is a film titled "The Fourth Wise Man" starring Martin Sheen as Artaban. The film is based on Henry Van Dyke's classic, "The Story of the Other Wise Man".











































