1 Kings 18:24

24 Then you pray to your god. And I'll pray to the Lord. The god who answers by sending fire down is the one and only God." Then all of the people said, "What you are saying is good."

1 Kings 18:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 18:24

And call ye on the name of your gods
The Baalim, the many lords and gods they served:

and I will call on the name of the Lord;
the one true Jehovah and God of Israel, whom I serve:

and the God that answereth by fire;
by causing fire to come down upon the sacrifice, and consume it:

let him be God;
accounted, owned, and acknowledged as the true God, and so afterwards worshipped as such:

and all the people answered and said, it is well spoken;
they thought it a very reasonable proposal, a very good method to determine the controversy, and come at the truth, and know who was the true God, and who not.

1 Kings 18:24 In-Context

22 Then Elijah said to them, "I'm the only one of the LORD's prophets left. But Baal has 450 prophets.

23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal's prophets choose one for themselves. Let them cut it into pieces. Then let them put it on the wood. But don't let them set fire to it. I'll prepare the other bull. I'll put it on the wood. But I won't set fire to it.

24 Then you pray to your god. And I'll pray to the Lord. The god who answers by sending fire down is the one and only God." Then all of the people said, "What you are saying is good."

25 Elijah spoke to the prophets of Baal. He said, "Choose one of the bulls. There are many of you. So prepare your bull first. Pray to your god. But don't light the fire."

26 So they prepared the bull they had been given. They prayed to Baal from morning until noon. "Baal! Answer us!" they shouted. But there wasn't any reply. No one answered. Then they danced around the altar they had made.