10
James and John, who were Zebedee's sons and Simon's partners, were also amazed. Jesus told Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will catch people instead of fish."
11
Simon and his partners brought the boats to shore, left everything, and followed Jesus.
12
One day Jesus was in a city where there was a man covered with a serious skin disease. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground. He begged Jesus, "Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean."
13
Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, "I want to. So be clean!" Immediately, his skin disease went away.
14
Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone. Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifice as Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean."
15
The news about Jesus spread even more. Large crowds gathered to hear him and have their diseases cured.
16
But he would go away to places where he could be alone for prayer.
17
One day when Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and experts in Moses' Teachings were present. They had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. Jesus had the power of the Lord to heal.
18
Some men brought a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They tried to take him into the house and put him in front of Jesus.
19
But they could not find a way to get him into the house because of the crowd. So they went up on the roof. They made an opening in the tiles and let the man down on his stretcher among the people. (They lowered him in front of Jesus.)
20
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Sir, your sins are forgiven."