Midrasch zu Schemot 7:28

(Ib. b) R. Jose said: "Tudus of Rome instituted the custom among the Roman [Jewish] inhabitants of eating a G'di M'Kullas on Passover night. So the sages sent him the following message: 'Wert thou not Tudus, thou wouldst have been put under a ban because thou makest Israel eat consecrated meat outside Jerusalem.'" How can they say consecrated meat? Rather say, "similar to consecrated meat." The following question was submitted by the members of the academy: "Was Tudus of Rome really a great man or was he merely a man of influence [and for that reason the sages were afraid to put him under a ban]?" Come, listen! We are taught: And again, Tudus the Roman expounded: "What justified Chananyah, Misha'el and Azar'yah in suffering themselves to be thrown into the fiery kiln? [Since it is written in the Torah, And he shall live by it, (the Torah), and not die by it.] They drew their Justification," said he, "through a fortiori." If concerning the frogs, who were in no way obliged in like manner to sanctify the name of God, it is written (Ex. 7, 28) And they shall go up and come into thy house, and into thy sleeping chamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servant, and among thy people, and into thy ovens, and in thy kneading dough; (When is the kneading dough found in the ovens? Surely when it is hot!) and since the frogs did not take heed for their lives but went into hot ovens, how much more shall we (Chanauyah, Misha'el and Azar'yah) who are in duty bound and are commanded to sanctify God's name, do such a thing!" [Hence we infer that Tudus of Rome was really a great man.] R. Jose said: "The reason the sages respected Tudus was that he threw the profits of merchandise into the purse of scholars [in order that they might be able to make a living for themselves]; for R. Jochanan said: 'Whoever is accustomed to throw the profits of merchandise into the purse of a scholar [thus enabling the scholar to support himself], will be awarded the privilege of sitting in the Heavenly academy, as it is said (Ecc. 7, 12) For under the shadow of wisdom is he who is under the shadow of money.' "