THE FIRST LEPER HEALED.

And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.  And Simon and they that were with him followed after him; and they found him, and say unto him, “All are seeking thee.”

And he saith unto them, “Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth.”

And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.

And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, there cometh to him a man full of leprosy, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

And being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, “I will; be thou made clean.”  And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.  And he strictly charged him, and straightway sent him out, and saith unto him, “See thou say nothing to any man:  but go show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but withdrew himself to desert places and prayed:  and they came to him from every quarter to hear and to be healed of their infirmities.  And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

BEGINNINGS OF CONTROVERSY

THE HEALING OF A PARALYTIC.

And when he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was noised that he was in the house.  And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door; and he spake the word unto them.

And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four.  And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they went up to the housetop, and uncovered the roof where he was:  and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay.

And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, “Son, thy sins are forgiven.”

But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, “Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth:  who can forgive sins but one, even God?”

And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, “Why reason ye these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, ’Thy sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?’ But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy), ’I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.’”