12While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."

13And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him.

14And he charged him to tell no one, but "go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them."

15But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.

16But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

17On one of those days, as he was teaching, 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 with him to heal.

18And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,

19but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.

20And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

22When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts?

23Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?

24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the man who was paralyzed--"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home."

25And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

26And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."