22. Then Elijah continued:I am the Lord's only prophet, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
23. Bring us two bulls. Baal's prophets can take one of them, kill it, and cut it into pieces. Then they can put the meat on the wood without lighting the fire. I will do the same thing with the other bull, and I won't light a fire under it either.
24. The prophets of Baal will pray to their god, and I will pray to the Lord. The one who answers by starting the fire is God.“That's a good idea,” everyone agreed.
25. Elijah said to Baal's prophets, “There are more of you, so you go first. Pick out a bull and get it ready, but don't light the fire. Then pray to your god.”
26. They chose their bull, then they got it ready and prayed to Baal all morning, asking him to start the fire. They danced around the altar and shouted, “Answer us, Baal!” But there was no answer.
27. At midday, Elijah began making fun of them. “Pray louder!” he said. “Baal must be a god. Perhaps he's daydreaming or using the toilet or travelling somewhere. Or perhaps he's asleep, and you have to wake him up.”
28. The prophets kept shouting louder and louder, and they cut themselves with swords and knives until they were bleeding. This was the way they worshipped,
29. and they kept it up all afternoon. But there was no answer of any kind.
30. Elijah told everyone to gather around him while he repaired the Lord's altar.
31-32. Then he used twelve stones to build an altar in honour of the Lord. Each stone stood for one of the tribes of Israel, which was the name the Lord had given to their ancestor Jacob. Elijah dug a ditch around the altar, large enough to hold almost fourteen litres.
33. He placed the wood on the altar, then they cut the bull into pieces and laid the meat on the wood.He told the people, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it over the meat and the wood.” After they did this,
34. he told them to do it two more times. They did exactly as he said
35. until finally, the water ran down the altar and filled the ditch.
36. When it was time for the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed:Our Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Now, prove that you are the God of this nation, and that I, your servant, have done this at your command.
37. Please answer me, so these people will know that you are the Lord God, and that you will turn their hearts back to you.