17. And it came to pass on one of the days, that he was teaching, and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judaea and out of Jerusalem; and the Lord's power was there to heal them.
18. And lo, men bringing upon a couch a man who was paralysed; and they sought to bring him in, and put him before him.
19. And not finding what way to bring him in, on account of the crowd, going up on the housetop they let him down through the tiles, with his little couch, into the midst before Jesus.
20. And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason in their minds, saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins but God alone?
22. But Jesus, knowing their reasonings, answering said to them, Why reason ye in your hearts?
23. which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24. But that ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, he said to the paralysed man, I say to thee, Arise, and take up thy little couch and go to thine house.
25. And immediately standing up before them, having taken up that whereon he was laid, he departed to his house, glorifying God.
26. And astonishment seized all, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.
27. And after these things he went forth and saw a tax-gatherer, Levi by name, sitting at the receipt of taxes, and said to him, Follow me.
28. And having left all, rising up, he followed him.
29. And Levi made a great entertainment for him in his house, and there was a great crowd of tax-gatherers and others who were at table with them.
30. And their scribes and the Pharisees murmured at his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with tax-gatherers and sinners?