5. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6. Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,
7. “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8. And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?
9. Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?
10. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—
11. “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”
12. And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
13. He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.
14. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.