Khalaf (rahimahullah) mentions:

On one occasion, Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah) came to me in order to hear the Hadith of Abu ‘Awaanah (rahimahullah). When he came, I tried my best to make him sit on an elevated place. However, he refused and said, “I will only sit in front of you (like a student). We have been instructed to display humility before those from whom we acquire the knowledge of deen.”

(Manaaqib Imaam Ahmed libnil Jowzi pg. 71)