JESUS HEALS THE SICK
AND they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he
entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at
his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as
the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean
spirit; and he cried out, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with
thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold
thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn
him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all
amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What
thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth
he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his
fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
[Sidenote: St. Mark 1]
And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered
into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's
wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And
he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately
the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And at even, when the
sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them
that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together
at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and
cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because
they knew him.
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out,
and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and
they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found
him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them,
Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for
therefore came I forth. And he preached in their synagogues throughout
all Galilee, and cast out devils. And there came a leper to him,
beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou
wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion,
put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be
thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy
departed from him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him,
and forthwith sent him away; and saith unto him, See thou say nothing
to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for
thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto
them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze
abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into
the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from
every quarter.
[Sidenote: St. Luke 6]
And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised
that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together,
insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as
about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto
him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when
they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the
roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the
bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he
said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But
there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their
hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins
but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that
they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye
these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick
of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up
thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power
on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say
unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them
all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We
never saw it on this fashion.
And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted
unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son
of Alphæus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow
me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus
sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together
with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed
him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and
sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and
drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto
them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that
are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.