4. When he finished speaking, he turned to Simon. He said, "Go out into deep water. Let the nets down so you can catch some fish."
5. Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6. When they had done so, they caught a large number of fish. There were so many that their nets began to break.
7. So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees. "Go away from me, Lord!" he said. "I am a sinful man!"
9. He and everyone with him were amazed at the number of fish they had caught.
10. So were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who worked with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will catch people."
11. So they pulled their boats up on shore. Then they left everything and followed him.
12. While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along. He had a skin disease all over his body. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground. He begged him, "Lord, if you are willing to make me 'clean,' you can do it."
13. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing to do it," he said. "Be 'clean'!" Right away the disease left him.
14. Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone. Go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded. It will be a witness to the priest and the people that you are 'clean.' "
15. But the news about Jesus spread even more. So crowds of people came to hear him. They also came to be healed of their sicknesses.
16. But Jesus often went away to be by himself and pray.
17. One day Jesus was teaching. Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. They heard that the Lord had given Jesus the power to heal the sick.
18. Some men came carrying a man who could not walk. He was lying on a mat. They tried to take him into the house to place him in front of Jesus.
19. They could not find a way to do this because of the crowd. So they went up on the roof. Then they lowered the man on his mat through the opening in the roof tiles. They lowered him into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20. When Jesus saw that they had faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
21. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to think, "Who is this fellow who says such an evil thing? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
22. Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
23. Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven'? Or to say, 'Get up and walk'?