(Mishnah): On Erev Pesach close to (half an hour before) Minchah [Ketanah] (which is 2 1/2 hours before the end of the day), a person must wait until nightfall in order to eat.

Even the poorest man may not eat until he reclines (like a free man); they may not supply him with less than four cups of wine, even if he is so poor that he eats from the soup kitchen.

(Gemara): The Mishnah follows R. Yehuda, as the Beraisa teaches -

R. Yehuda says - On Erev Shabbos from the time of Minchah [Ketanah], a person may not taste anything until nightfall, in order to enter Shabbos with an appetite.

R. Yosi says - he may continue to eat until he completes his meal.

R. Yehuda says - One must stop his meal (and say Birkas Hamazon and recite Kiddush) at the onset of Shabbos.

R. Yosi says - One is not required to stop.

It once occurred that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel and R. Yosi ben Chalafta were dining in Acco on Erev Shabbos and Shabbos arrived.

Rabban Shimon said to R. Yosi - Would you like to stop the meal for Shabbos?

R. Yosi replied - Every day you praise my words in front of R. Yehuda and now you are praising R. Yehuda's words in front of me! (Ester 7, 8),''Would you actually attack the queen while I am in the house''?! (I.e. Must you embarrass me to my face?)

Rabban Shimon responded - If so, we will not stop the meal lest the law be established like R. Yehuda.

They did not leave until the law was established like R. Yosi.

R. Yehuda quoting Shmuel: These are the words of R. Yehuda and R. Yosi; but the Chachamim say that he should spread a cloth (over the Challah) and recite Kiddush (in the middle of his meal).