Before Jesus

17And it happened on one of those days that he was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was there for him to heal.

18And behold, men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and set him before him.

19And not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him with his mat through the tiles into the middle, in front of Jesus.

20And seeing their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven.”

21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason among themselves, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins except God alone?”

22But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?”

23Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?”

24But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—he said to the paralyzed man, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go to your house.”

25And immediately he stood up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went away to his house, glorifying God.

26And amazement seized them all, and they were glorifying God, and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”