9. Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say ‘Get up and pick up your stretcher and walk’?
10. But so 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, get up, pick up your stretcher, and go to your home.”
12. And he got up and immediately picked up his stretcher and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
13. And he went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he began to teach them.
14. And as he was passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me!” And he stood up and followed him.
15. And it happened that he was dining in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many and they were following him.