t towns, that I may
preach there also; for therefore came I forth."

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast
out devils. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and
kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, "If thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean." And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand,
and touched him, and saith unto him, "I will; be thou clean."

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from
him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith
sent him away; and saith unto him, "See thou say nothing to any man:
but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing
those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the
matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city,
but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every
quarter.

CHAPTER II

A TEACHER WITH AUTHORITY

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised
that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together,
insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as
about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto
him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when
they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the
roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the
bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he
said unto the sick of the palsy:

"Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."

But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in
their hearts:

"Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but
God only?"

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so
reasoned within themselves, he said unto them:

"Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to
say to the sick of the palsy, 'Thy sins be forgiven thee;' or to say,
'Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?' But that ye may know that the
Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick
of the palsy,) I say unto thee, 'Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy
way into thine house.'"

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them
all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying:

"We never