\documentclass[a4paper,10pt]{article}
\usepackage[margin=1.5cm]{geometry}
\usepackage{multicol}
\usepackage{multicoltab}
\renewcommand{\tabularxcolumn}[1]{>{\raggedright\arraybackslash}p{#1}}

\begin{document}

\section*{Three columns}
\begin{multicols}{3}
\begin{multicoltab}{@{}p{1.3cm}X@{}}
  1 & First entry in a three-column layout. \\
  2 & Second entry in a three-column layout. \\
  3 & Third entry in a three-column layout. \\
  4 & Fourth entry in a three-column layout. \\
  5 & Fifth entry in a three-column layout. \\
  6 & Sixth entry in a three-column layout. \\
  7 & Seventh entry in a three-column layout. \\
  8 & Eighth entry in a three-column layout. \\
  9 & Ninth entry in a three-column layout.
\end{multicoltab}
\end{multicols}


\section*{Four layout columns, three table columns}
\begin{multicols}{4}
\begin{multicoltab}{lXX}
  1 & First entry & 11. \\
  2 & Second entry & 22. \\
  3 & Third entry & 33 \\
  4 & Fourth entry & 44 \\
  5 & Fifth entry & 55 \\
  6 & Sixth entry & 66 \\
  7 & Seventh entry & 77 \\
  8 & Eighth entry & 88 \\
  9 & Ninth entry & 99
\end{multicoltab}
\end{multicols}


\section*{Three layout columns, four table columns}
\begin{multicols}{3}
\begin{multicoltab}{lXXl|}
  1 & First entry & 11 & 111 \\
  2 & Second entry & 22 & 222 \\
  3 & Third entry & 33 & 333 \\
  4 & Fourth entry & 44 & 444 \\
  5 & Fifth entry & 55 & 555 \\
  6 & Sixth entry & 66 & 666 \\
  7 & Seventh entry & 77 & 777 \\
  8 & Eighth entry & 88 & 888 \\
  9 & Ninth entry & 99 & 999
\end{multicoltab}
\end{multicols}


\section*{Four columns}
\begin{multicols}{4}
\begin{multicoltab}{@{}p{1cm}X@{}}
  1 & First entry. \\
  2 & Second entry. \\
  3 & Third entry. \\
  4 & Fourth entry. \\
  5 & Fifth entry. \\
  6 & Sixth entry. \\
  7 & Seventh entry. \\
  8 & Eighth entry. \\
  9 & Ninth entry. \\
  10 & Tenth entry. \\
  11 & Eleventh entry. \\
  12 & Twelfth entry.
\end{multicoltab}
\end{multicols}


\section*{Four columns - no Multicolumn}
\begin{multicoltab}{lccc}
 1 & First entry & 11 & 111 \\
  2 & Second entry & 22 & 222 \\
  3 & Third entry & 33 & 333 \\
  4 & Fourth entry & 44 & 444 \\
  5 & Fifth entry & 55 & 555 \\
  6 & Sixth entry & 66 & 666 \\
  7 & Seventh entry & 77 & 777 \\
  8 & Eighth entry & 88 & 888 \\
  9 & Ninth entry & 99 & 999
\end{multicoltab}

\end{document}