22 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts?
23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
24 But 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 stretcher, and go home.”
25 He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God.
26 Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.”
28 And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.