And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, " 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 said 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 great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
And again he entered into Capernaum after some days. And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, " Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee."
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason in their hearts, saying, "Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, "What reason ye in your hearts? whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? but that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins," (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) "I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thine house."
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things to-day. We never saw it on this fashion."
