neither did we eat bread from anyone's hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you;
Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought: The words "did...eat" (phago) mean "to eat (consume) a thing...to take food, eat a meal" (Thayer 252-2-2068). Eating bread for nought means eating free gratis or eating at someone else’s expense. Paul made sure he worked hard while in Thessalonica. Thus, he was an example to pay for all the food he received from anyone.