7. "Why does he speak this way? He’s insulting God. Only the one God can forgive sins."
8. Jesus immediately recognized what they were discussing, and he said to them, "Why do you fill your minds with these questions?
9. Which is easier—to say to a paralyzed person, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk’?
10. But so you will know that the Human One has authority on the earth to forgive sins"—he said to the man who was paralyzed,
11. "Get up, take your mat, and go home."
12. Jesus raised him up, and right away he picked up his mat and walked out in front of everybody. They were all amazed and praised God, saying, "We’ve never seen anything like this!"
13. Jesus went out beside the lake again. The whole crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.
14. As he continued along, he saw Levi, Alphaeus’ son, sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Levi got up and followed him.