2:2  And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room [for them], no, not even about the door¹: and he spake the word unto them².

1. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room [for them], no, not even about the door. Oriental houses are one or two storied structures, built in the form of a square, or rectangle, with an open space in the center called the court. They have one door which opens from the street into an open space called the porch, and this porch in turn opens upon the court. In this porch there is usually a stairway leading to the roof. The roofs are invariably flat, and are surrounded by a breastwork or parapet to keep those on them from falling off. Roofs or housetops are used as we use yards, only they are somewhat private. Some think that this house was a two-storied structure, and that Jesus was teaching in the upper room or second story. If this were so, there would have been little profit to the people who clung about the street door, for they could neither see nor hear. Besides, a two-storied house would probably have been beyond the means of Simon Peter. It is more likely that Jesus was in the room opposite the porch across the court. If so, the crowd at the door might catch an occasional word, or by tiptoeing obtain a momentary glance; and thus fan the hope of some ultimate satisfaction.

2. And he spake the word unto them. The gospel is here called the "word", for it is the Word among words, as the Bible is the Book among books.

2:3  And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy¹, borne of four².

1. And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy. "Palsy" is an abbreviation of the word "paralysis". It is caused by a cessation of the nervous activities. See Matthew 4:24.

2. Borne of four. In the East bedsteads were practically unknown. An Oriental bed is a thin mattress, or pallet, just large enough for a man to lie upon; and those generally used by the poor today are made of sheepskin with the wool on it. Such a bed could be easily carried by four men, if each took hold of a corner.

2:4  And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd¹, they uncovered the roof where he was²: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay³.

1. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd. To these four who sought Jesus it seemed a case of now or never. If they waited till another season, Jesus might withdraw himself again for "some days", or the palsied man might die. "Now" is always the day of salvation.

2. They uncovered the roof where he was. Some have thought that removing the roof merely means that they took away the awning over the court, and also that the removal of the tile merely means that they took down the parapet or wall which prevented people from falling from the roof into the court. But the language is strongly against such a construction. An awning is not a roof, and it is rolled up, not "broken up". Moreover, the man was let down "through the tiling" (Luke 5:19), which seems to indicate that the remaining tiles encased an opening through which he was lowered. The tiles were plates of burnt clay, suitable for roofing rather than for building walls or parapets.

3. And when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay. We are not told in what part of the house Jesus stood, but evidently an opening was made in the flat roof above him, and the man was lowered to the floor in front of Jesus by means of short straps or pieces of rope fastened to the four corners of the bed. A stout parapet would have aided rather than hindered, if the body had been lowered into the court.

2:5  And Jesus seeing their faith¹ saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven².

1. And Jesus seeing their faith. The four friends of the sick man showed their faith by those bold and persistent efforts which took liberties with the house of a neighbor; and the palsied man showed his faith by consenting to the extraordinary means employed in his behalf.

2. Saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven. The affectionate address, "Son", might have ordinarily surprised the Jewish doctors, who held themselves too far removed from sinners to speak thus