1 Corinthians 9:6

The Corinthians had acknowledged the right of the other apostles to refrain from secular employment. Paul and Barnabas chose to work with their hands at times so their financial support would not burden their converts (1 Corinthians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9; Acts 20:34). Evidently the practice of Barnabas was well known. Paul had stooped to the demeaning work (in the Corinthians’ eyes) of making tents while he ministered in Corinth (Acts 18:3). Apparently some of the Corinthian Christians took Paul’s action as an indication that he did not think of himself as worthy of support because he was not equal with the other apostles.