The first dozen verses in this chapter are all part of this story about the healing of the paralytic, who arrives on a κράβαττον – krabatton (grabatus in Latin), which is a frame around which cords have been stretched to support a mattress, here called a “pallet”, but also translated as “bed” or “couch”. In many of the artistic representations of this scene, ropes at the corners are used to lower the bed through the roof.

The question of who the paralytic represents is something I’ve not seen addressed by anyone, but it may be helpful to note the ancient definition implies someone who is immobile due to mental trauma or illness, not necessarily someone who has physical nerve damage and cannot walk. In this story so far, anyone who is opposed to Rome is shown as being a wild beast, crazy or inhabited by demons. It’s not so far to go to presume that a paralytic would also be someone who is unable to make the right choices for Rome. Perhaps, then, this person represents those so frightened by Rome as to be unable to choose a side, as they are granted the boon of freedom.
It’s not clear who ‘they’ are, who are bringing the paralytic, but it’s clear that the four men holding the grabatus are members of a much larger group (sufficient to fill a house). Perhaps through learning who “they” are, we might learn more about who the paralytic was, and why they were there.