Healings at Capernaum

²⁹ As^(A) soon as they left the synagogue,^(B) they went into Simon^(C) and Andrew’s^(D) house^(E) with James^(F) and John.^{(G) 30} Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. ³¹ So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.^(H) The fever^(I) left her,^[a] and she began to serve^(J) them.^(K)

³² When^(L) evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick^(M) and demon-possessed.^{(N) 33} The whole town was assembled at the door, ³⁴ and he healed^(O) many who were sick with various diseases^(P) and drove out^(Q) many demons.^(R) And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.^(S)

Preaching in Galilee

³⁵ Very^(T) early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place;^(U) and there he was praying.^{(V) 36} Simon^(W) and his companions searched for him, ³⁷ and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

³⁸ And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach^(X) there too. This is why I have come.”

A Man Cleansed

³⁹ He went into all of Galilee,^(Y) preaching in their synagogues^(Z) and driving out demons. ⁴⁰ Then^(AA) a man with leprosy^[b](AB) came to him and, on his knees,^[c](AC) begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”^{(AD) 41} Moved with compassion,^[d](AE) Jesus reached out his hand and touched^(AF) him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy^(AG) left him, and he was made clean. ⁴³ Then he sternly warned^(AH) him and sent him away^(AI) at once, ⁴⁴ telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;^(AJ) but go and show^(AK) yourself to the priest,^(AL) and offer^(AM) what Moses commanded for your cleansing,^(AN) as a testimony^(AO) to them.”^{[e] 45} Yet he went out and began to proclaim^(AP) it widely and to spread the news,^(AQ) with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

2 When^(A) he entered Capernaum^(B) again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word^(C) to them. ³ They came to him bringing a paralytic,^(D) carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they were not able to bring him to^[a] Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. ⁵ Seeing their faith,^(E) Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins^(F) are forgiven.”^(G)

⁶ But some of the scribes^(H) were sitting there, questioning^(I) in their hearts: ⁷ “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming!^(J) Who can forgive^(K) sins^(L) but God alone?” ^(M)

⁸ Right away^(N) Jesus perceived in his spirit^(O) that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier:^(P) to say to the paralytic,^(Q) ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?^{(R) 10} But so that you may know that the Son of Man^(S) has authority^(T) on earth to forgive sins”^(U)—he told the paralytic— ¹¹ “I tell you: get up,^(V) take your mat, and go home.”

¹² Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded^(W) and gave glory^(X) to God,^(Y) saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” ^(Z)

The Call of Levi

¹³ Jesus^(AA) went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching^(AB) them. ¹⁴ Then, passing by, he saw Levi^(AC) the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office,^(AD) and he said to him, “Follow me,”^(AE) and he got up and followed^(AF) him.

¹⁵ While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors^(AG) and sinners^(AH) were eating^[b] with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. ¹⁶ When the scribes^(AI) who were Pharisees^[c](AJ) saw that he was eating^(AK) with sinners^(AL) and tax collectors,^(AM) they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat^[d] with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need^(AN) a doctor,^(AO) but those who are sick.^(AP) I didn’t come to call the righteous,^(AQ) but sinners.”^(AR)