The biblical Magi (/ˈmeɪdʒaɪ/ or /ˈmædʒaɪ/; singular: magus), also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men or (Three) Kings, also the Three Magi were distinguished foreigners in the Gospel of Matthew and Christian tradition. They are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Who is the three kings visit Jesus?
They have become known most commonly as Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar (or Casper). According to Western church tradition, Balthasar is often represented as a king of Arabia or sometimes Ethiopia, Melchior as a king of Persia, and Gaspar as a king of India.
Who did the Three Kings visit and where?
The tradition says that the three kings (also known as the three wise men) had a mission to go to Bethlehem. They followed a star that showed them the way to see baby Jesus, who had just been born. Upon arriving, these three kings offered three gifts: gold, incense, and myrrh.
How far did the wise men visit Jesus?
The 3 wise men (3 Magi) likely traveled (by camel) an average of 10 miles per day for 2–1/2 years to get to the toddler Jesus. That is 9,125 miles estimated (one-way).
Why did the 3 kings visit Jesus?
The Three Kings were among the wisest men of their time. Discovering that the Messiah was to be born, they organized an expedition to find him, following a star that led them to Bethlehem. Despite their culture and religion in a foreign land, they accepted Jesus as their Savior.
How did the three kings find Jesus?
According to the Gospel of Matthew, the men found the divine child in Bethlehem by following the North Star across the desert. According to later writings, the Kings (Melchior from Europe, Caspar from Arabia, and Balthazar from Africa) arrived twelve days after Jesus' birth.
How long did Mary and Joseph stay in Bethlehem?
So they stayed in Bethlehem 40 days after Jesus' birth, since Mary was ritually unclean – and recovering from the birth, presented Jesus in the temple, and went home.
Why did the Magi travel by night?
The negative attitude of the native compelled the Magi to travel only in the night time. So they lost most their sleep and when they slept in snatches, they were haunted by nightmares and strange 'voices' which warned them that they were heading for a futile end.