not: henceforward thou shalt catch men. (11)And when they had brought
their vessels on shore, they left all, and followed him.

(12)And it came to pass as he was just at one of the cities, behold, a
man full of leprosy! and seeing Jesus, he fell on his face, and
besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
(13)And he stretching out his hand touched him, saying, I will: be thou
cleansed. And instantly the leprosy departed from him. (14)And he
commanded him to tell no man: but go shew thyself to the priest, and
offer for thy purification, as Moses enjoined, for a testimony unto
them. (15)Now the discourse concerning him more and more spread through
the country: and vast multitudes came together to hear him, and to be
cured by him of their disorders. (16)But he himself was in the desert
for retirement and prayer.

(17)And on a certain day it happened that he was teaching, and there
were sitting Pharisees, and doctors of the law, who had come from every
town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord
for healing them was exercised. (18)And behold, men carried on a couch
a man who was a paralytic; and sought to bring him into the house, and
to place him before him. (19)And not discovering by what means they
could introduce him, because of the crowd, they went up to the roof,
and through the tiling let him down with his little couch into the
midst, before Jesus. (20)And seeing their faith, he saith to him, Man,
thy sins are forgiven thee. (21)And the scribes and Pharisees began to
reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive
sins but God alone? (22)And Jesus knowing their reasoning, in reply
said to them, Why do ye reason in your hearts? (23)for which is the
easier? to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise and walk?
(24)But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority upon earth
to forgive sins, (he saith to the paralytic,) I say to thee, Arise, and
take up thy couch, and go into thy house. (25)And instantly he rose up
before them, took up that on which he had lain, and went away to his
house, giving glory to God. (26)And an extacy of admiration seized upon
them all, and they glorified God; and they were filled with awe,
saying, We have seen wondrously strange things to-day.

(27)And after these things he went out, and saw a farmer of the taxes,
named Levi, sitting at the custom-house: and he said unto him, Follow
me. (28)And leaving all beh