19. and not having found by what way they may bring him in because of the multitude, having gone up on the house-top, through the tiles they let him down, with the little couch, into the midst before Jesus,
20. and he having seen their faith, said to him, `Man, thy sins have been forgiven thee.'
21. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, `Who is this that doth speak evil words? who is able to forgive sins, except God only?'
22. And Jesus having known their reasonings, answering, said unto them, `What reason ye in your hearts?
23. which is easier--to say, Thy sins have been forgiven thee? or to say, Arise, and walk?
24. `And that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority upon the earth to forgive sins--(he said to the one struck with palsy) --I say to thee, Arise, and having taken up thy little couch, be going on to thy house.'
25. And presently having risen before them, having taken up [that] on which he was lying, he went away to his house, glorifying God,
26. and astonishment took all, and they were glorifying God, and were filled with fear, saying--`We saw strange things to-day.'
27. And after these things he went forth, and beheld a tax-gatherer, by name Levi, sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, `Be following me;'
28. and he, having left all, having arisen, did follow him.
29. And Levi made a great entertainment to him in his house, and there was a great multitude of tax-gatherers and others who were with them reclining (at meat),
30. and the scribes and the Pharisees among them were murmuring at his disciples, saying, `Wherefore with tax-gatherers and sinners do ye eat and drink?'