“ Where is he that is born king of the Jews ? For we have seen his star in the east , and have come to adore him .”
In Matthew Chapter 2 we read , “ When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda , in the days of king Herod , behold , there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem . [ 2 ] Saying , Where is he that is born king of the Jews ? For we have seen his star in the east , and have come to adore him .[ 3 ] And king Herod hearing this , was troubled , and all Jerusalem with him .... [ 7 ] Then Herod , privately calling the wise men , learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them ; [ 8 ] And sending them into Bethlehem , said : Go and diligently inquire after the child , and when you have found him , bring me word again , that I also may come to adore him . [ 9 ] Who having heard the king , went their way ; and behold the star which they had seen in the east , went before them , until it came and stood over where the child was .
8 Regina Magazine / The Magi
[ 10 ] And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy . [ 11 ] And entering into the house , they found the child with Mary his mother , and falling down they adored him ; and opening their treasures , they offered him gifts ; gold , frankincense , they offered him gifts ; gold , frankincense , and myrrh . [ 12 ] And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod , they went back another way into their country .” [ 13 ] So , a cameo appearance in one of the Gospels is the first time we hear of the Magi , from the word “ Magus ” in Latin . St . Matthew doesn ’ t say how many of them there were ; Eastern traditions put their number at twelve and artistic renderings depicts anywhere from two to eight . And although he didn ’ t write about the Wise Men , St . John the Evangelist knew the story and passed it down , according to St . Irenaus , his disciple .