First Reading1 Kings 18:20-39
From the First Book of Kings
20So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel,and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.21Elijah came near to all the people,and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides?If the Lord is God, follow him;but if Baal, then follow him.”
The people didn’t say a word.
22Then Elijah said to the people,“I, even I only, am left as a prophet of the Lord;but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.23Let them therefore give us two bulls;and let them choose one bull for themselves,and cut it in pieces,and lay it on the wood,and put no fire under;and I will dress the other bull,and lay it on the wood,and put no fire under it.24You call on the name of your god,and I will call on the Lord’s name.The God who answers by fire, let him be God.”
All the people answered, “What you say is good.”
25Elijah said to the prophets of Baal,“Choose one bull for yourselves,and dress it first, for you are many;and call on the name of your god,but put no fire under it.”
26They took the bull which was given them,and they dressed it,and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon,saying, “Baal, hear us!”But there was no voice, and nobody answered.They leaped about the altar which was made.
27At noon, Elijah mocked them,and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god.Either he is deep in thought,or he has gone somewhere,or he is on a journey,or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”
28They cried aloud,and cut themselves in their way with knivesand lances until the blood gushed out on them.29When midday was past,they prophesied until the time of the evening offering;but there was no voice,no answer, and nobody paid attention.
30Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”;and all the people came near to him.He repaired the Lord’s altar that had been thrown down.31Elijah took twelve stones,according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob,to whom the Lord’s word came,saying, “Israel shall be your name.”32With the stones he built an altar in the Lord’s name.He made a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seed.33He put the wood in order,and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood.He said, “Fill four jars with water,and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”34He said, “Do it a second time;”and they did it the second time.He said, “Do it a third time;”and they did it the third time.35The water ran around the altar;and he also filled the trench with water.
36At the time of the evening offering,Elijah the prophet came near and said,“Lord, the God of Abraham,of Isaac, and of Israel,let it be known today that you are God in Israeland that I am your servant,and that I have done all these things at your word.37Hear me, Lord, hear me,that this people may know that you,Lord, are God, andthat you have turned their heart back again.”
38Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering,the wood, the stones, and the dust;and it licked up the water that was in the trench.39When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces.They said, “The Lord, he is God!The Lord, he is God!”