Part 9

005:006 This they did, and enclosed a vast number of fish; and their nets began to break.

005:007 So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came, and they filled both the boats so that they almost sank.

005:008 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at the knees of Jesus, and exclaimed, "Master, leave my boat, for I am a sinful man."

005:009 (For he was astonished and terrified--he and all his companions-- at the haul of fish which they had taken;

005:010 and so were Simon's partners James and John, the sons of Zabdi.) But Jesus replied to Simon, "Fear not: from this time you shall be a catcher of men."

005:011 Then, after bringing their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

005:012 On another occasion, when He was in one of the towns, there was a man there covered with leprosy, who, seeing Jesus, threw himself at His feet and implored Him, saying, "Sir, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean."

005:013 Reaching out His hand and touching him, Jesus said, "I am willing; be cleansed!" And instantly the leprosy left him.

005:014 He ordered him to tell no one. "But go," He said, "show yourself to the Priest, and make the offering for your purification which Moses appointed, as evidence for them."

005:015 But all the more the report about Him spread abroad, and great multitudes crowded to hear Him and to be cured of their diseases;

005:016 but Jesus Himself constantly withdrew into the Desert and there prayed.

005:017 One day He was teaching, and there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village in Galilee and Judaea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present for Him to cure people.

005:018 And a party of men came carrying a palsied man on a bed, and they endeavoured to bring him in and lay him before Jesus.

005:019 But when they could find no way of doing so because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiling-- bed and all--into the midst, in front of Jesus.

005:020 He saw their faith and said to him, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

005:021 Then the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil, asking, "Who is this, uttering blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?"

005:022 Well aware of their reasonings, Jesus answered their questions by asking in turn, "What is this that you are debating in your hearts?

005:023 Which is easier?--to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk'?

005:024 But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--Turning to the paralytic He said, "I bid you, Rise, take up your bed, and go home."

005:025 Instantly he stood up in their presence, took up the mattress on which he had been lying, and went away to his home, giving glory to God.

005:026 Amazement seized them all. "Glory to God!" was the abiding feeling. Yet fear flashed through their minds and they said, "We have seen strange things to-day."

005:027 After this He went out and noticed a tax-gatherer, Levi by name, sitting at the Toll office; and He said to him, "Follow me."

005:028 He rose, left everything, and followed Him.

005:029 Levi also gave a great entertainment at his house in honour of Jesus, and there was a large party of tax-gatherers and others at table with them.

005:030 This led the Pharisees and Scribes of their party to expostulate with His disciples and ask, "Why are you eating and drinking with these tax-gatherers and notorious sinners?"

005:031 But Jesus replied to them, "It is not men in good health who require a physician, but the sick.

005:032 I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners."

005:033 Again they said to Him, "John's disciples fast often and pray, as do also those of the pharisees; but yours eat and drink."