15. But the news about Him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
16. Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.
17. On one of those days while He was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power to heal was in Him.
18. Just then some men came, carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before Him.
19. Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the mat through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.
20. Seeing their faith He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”
21. Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think: “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ”
22. But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you thinking this in your hearts?
23. Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
24. But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — He told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
25. Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
26. Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today! ”
27. After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me! ”