12 When Jesus was in one of the towns, there was a man covered with a skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he bowed before him and begged him, “Lord, you can heal me if you will.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, “I will. Be healed!” Immediately the disease disappeared.
14 Then Jesus said, “Don’t tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest and offer a gift for your healing, as Moses commanded. This will show the people what I have done.”
15 But the news about Jesus spread even more. Many people came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their sicknesses,
16 but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray.
17 One day as Jesus was teaching the people, the Pharisees and teachers of the law from every town in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem were there. The Lord was giving Jesus the power to heal people.
18 Just then, some men were carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and put him down before Jesus.