4. And when they were not able to present him to him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was. And opening it, they lowered down the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying.
5. Then, when Jesus had seen their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."
6. But some of the scribes were sitting in that place and thinking in their hearts:
7. "Why is this man speaking in this way? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
8. At once, Jesus, realizing in his spirit that they were thinking this within themselves, said to them: "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
9. Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up, take 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: Rise up, take up your stretcher, and go into your house."
12. And immediately he got up, and lifting up his stretcher, he went away in the sight of them all, so that they all wondered. And they honored God, by saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
13. And he departed again to the sea. And the entire crowd came to him, and he taught them.
14. And as he was passing by, he saw Levi of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs office. And he said to him, "Follow me." And rising up, he followed him.