Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 5:18-19

"And behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied: and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And not finding by what [way] they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus." — Luke 5:18-19 (ASV)

And they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop,—by the external staircase.

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

And when they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. According to Mark, there appears to have been some breaking up of the material that formed the roof of the house where Christ was. It was not altogether as easy a matter as some have imagined to let this poor palsied man down into the presence of Jesus; and if some of the dust from the roof fell upon the Pharisees and doctors of the law who were sitting nearby, it would only be what they were accustomed to throw into other people's eyes.

And they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop,—

There was, no doubt, a staircase outside, as there usually is to Eastern houses: They went upon the housetop,