1Then it came to pass, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, that he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2And saw two ships stand by the lakeside, but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and required him that he would thrust off a little from the land: and he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets to make a draught.
5Then Simon answered, and said unto him, Master, we have travailed sore all night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6And when they had so done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes, so that their net brake.
7And they beckoned to their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them, who came then, and filled both the ships, that they did sink.
8Now when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Lord, go from me: for I am a sinful man.
9For he was utterly astonied, and all that were with him, for the draught of fishes which they took.
10And so was also James and John the sons of Zebedee, which were companions with Simon. Then Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11And when they had brought the ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
12Now it came to pass, as he was in a certain city, behold, there was a man full of leprosy, and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13So he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14And he commanded him that he should tell it no man: but Go, saith he, and show thyself to the Priest, and offer for thy cleansing, as Moses hath commanded, for a witness unto them.
15But so much more went there a fame abroad of him, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of him of their infirmities.
16But he kept himself apart in the wilderness, and prayed.
17And it came to pass, on a certain day, as he was teaching, that the Pharisees and doctors of the Law sat by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was in him, to heal them.
18Then behold, men brought a man lying in a bed, which was taken with a palsy, and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the press, they went up on the house, and let him down through the tiling, bed and all, in the midst before Jesus.
20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21Then the Scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God only?
22But when Jesus perceived their reasoning he answered, and said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23Whether is easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say, Rise and walk?
24But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority to forgive sins in earth, (he said unto the sick of the palsy) I say to thee, Arise: take up thy bed, and go into thine house.
25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up his bed whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, praising God.
26And they were all amazed, and praised God, and were filled with fear, saying, Doubtless we have seen strange things today.
27And after that, he went forth and saw a Publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me.
28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29Then Levi made him a great feast in his own house, where there was a great company of Publicans, and of others that sat at table with them.
30But they that were Scribes and Pharisees among them, murmured against his disciples, saying, Why eat ye and drink ye with Publicans and sinners?
31Then Jesus answered, and said unto them, They that are whole, need not the Physician, but they that are sick.
32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
33Then they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and pray, and the disciples of the Pharisees also, but thine eat and drink?
34And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the wedding chamber to fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them?
35But the days will come, even when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them: then shall they fast in those days.
36Again he spake also unto them a parable, No man putteth a piece of a new garment into an old vesture: for then the new renteth it, and the piece taken out of the new, agreeth not with the old.
37Also no man poureth new wine into old vessels: for then the new wine will break the vessels, and it will run out, and the vessels will perish:
38But new wine must be poured into new vessels: so both are preserved.
39Also no man that drinketh old wine, straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is more profitable.