16. But He Himself withdrew [in retirement] to the wilderness (desert) and prayed.
17. One of those days, as He was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting by, who had come from every village and town of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was [present] with Him to heal them.
18. And behold, some men were bringing on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed, and they tried to carry him in and lay him before [Jesus].
19. But finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him with his stretcher through the tiles into the midst, in front of Jesus.
20. And when He saw [their confidence in Him, springing from] their faith, He said, Man, your sins are forgiven you!
21. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason and question and argue, saying, Who is this [Man] Who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?
22. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts and questionings, answered them, Why do you question in your hearts?
23. Which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Arise and walk [about]?
24. But that you may know that the Son of Man has the [power of] authority and right on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, arise, pick up your litter (stretcher), and go to your own house!