Macrobius' Saturnalia Book One

In the seventh book, Evangelus interrupts with a question about the human brain, designed to trap Disarius (7. 9). Afterward, he rudely interrupts an argument between Eustathius and Disarius with a mocking request to be told which came first, the egg or the hen (7. 16. 1). Disarius, however, seriously presents the case for both sides. Evangelus then refers to an incident on his country estate at Tibur, asking why game meat spoils more quickly in moonlight than in sunlight and why the insertion of copper nails prevents such decomposition (7. 16. 15).

However, his primary role in the dialogue is to lead up to the criticism of Vergil and to intervene periodically (e.g., 3. 10-12; 5. 2. 1) with disparaging remarks. For instance, when Praetextatus finishes a long exposition (1. 17-23) prompted by a line in the Georgics, Evangelus objects to using Vergil to corroborate theological theories. He also criticizes an uncritical admiration of the poet, which he deems worthy only of a schoolboy. As he reminds his audience, Vergil thought so little of his Aeneid that he instructed his executors to burn it. Evangelus suggests this was due to moral concerns—such as Venus begging for armor from her husband for her illegitimate son—as well as artistic flaws, specifically the awkward arrangement of the poem and the use of Greek words and outlandish expressions (1. 14. 1-7). However, the others present reject this view. For them, Vergil had claimed all knowledge as his province (1. 16. 12), and the pre-dinner conversation on the last two days of the Saturnalia focuses on the poet’s merits as they perceive them.

It appears that, despite his name, Evangelus is not Greek, for he speaks of Vergil as "our poet" (1. 24. 2). The question of whether his name implies he was a Christian cannot be answered with certainty. However, if Evangelus were a Christian,The charge of superstition that he brings against Praetextatus (1. 11. 1) may be significant here. he would likely have been distasteful to an admirer of the old religion.