8 At once Jesus knew what these teachers of the law were thinking. So he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?
9 Which is easier: to tell this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to tell him, ‘Stand up. Take your mat and walk’?
10 But I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So Jesus said to the paralyzed man,
11 “I tell you, stand up. Take your mat and go home.”
12 Immediately the paralyzed man stood up. He took his mat and walked out while everyone was watching him.The people were amazed and praised God. They said, “We have never seen anything like this!”
13 Jesus went to the lake again. A crowd followed him there, and he taught them.
14 While he was walking beside the lake, he saw a tax collector named Levi son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting in the tax office. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And Levi stood up and followed Jesus.