magos denotes people identified as sages, whether visitors who provide information to Herod or a man who opposes Paul and Barnabas.

The term identifies sages: most occurrences concern a group from the east whom Herod consults about the star, while Acts applies it to Elymas, a Jewish man described as a false prophet who opposes the missionaries.

1. Sages consulted by Herod · dominant

   In Matthew 2:1 the nominative plural names sages from the east who arrive in Jerusalem. In Matthew 2:7 Herod summons the accusative plural and questions them about when the star appeared; Matthew 2:16 refers to the same group in the genitive plural as those from whom he had ascertained the time.

   Matthew 2:1Matthew 2:7Matthew 2:16
2. Elymas, a sage and false prophet · occasional

   In Acts 13:6 the accusative singular identifies a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus, whom the APB renders as a "Jewish sage and false prophet." In Acts 13:8 the nominative singular identifies Elymas as the man opposing them and seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

   Acts 13:6Acts 13:8

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB consistently uses "sage" or "sages" in these verses, adding "false prophet" for the man in Acts 13:6. That added description should not be treated as part of the term's meaning.