18 aAnd some men were carrying on a 1bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him.

19 But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on athe roof and let him down bthrough the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.

20 Seeing their faith, He said, “1Friend, ayour sins are forgiven you.”

21 The scribes and the Pharisees abegan to reason, saying, “bWho is this man who speaks blasphemies? cWho can forgive sins, but God alone?”

22 But Jesus, 1aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?

23 “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

24 “But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the aparalytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.”

25 Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home aglorifying God.

26 1They were all struck with astonishment and began aglorifying God; and they were filled bwith fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”