1Ki 18:1
18:1 And it came to pass [after] many days, that the word of the
     LORD came to Elijah in the {a} third year, saying, Go, shew
     thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

     (a) After that he departed from the river Cherith.

1Ki 18:3
18:3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which [was] the governor of [his]
     house.  (Now Obadiah {b} feared the LORD greatly:

     (b) God had begun to work his fear in his heart, but had
         not yet brought him to the knowledge which is also
         required of the godly: that is, to profess his Name
         openly.

1Ki 18:7
18:7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah {c} met him:
     and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, [Art] thou
     that my lord Elijah?

     (c) God often pities the wicked for the sake of the godly,
         and causes Elijah to meet with Obadiah, that the
         blessing might be known to be granted for the sake of
         God's children.

1Ki 18:12
18:12 And it shall come to pass, [as soon as] I am gone from
      thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither
      I know not; and [so] when I come and tell Ahab, and he
      cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant {d}
      fear the LORD from my youth.

      (d) I am not of the wicked persecutors that you should
          procure to me such displeasure, but serve God and
          favour his children.

1Ki 18:15
18:15 And Elijah said, [As] the LORD of hosts liveth, before
      whom I stand, I will surely shew {e} myself unto him to
      day.

      (e) By my presence I will declare that you have told him
          the truth.

1Ki 18:18
18:18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but {f} thou,
      and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the
      commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

      (f) The true ministers of God should not only not permit
          falsehoods, but should boldly reprove the wicked
          slanderers without respect of persons.

1Ki 18:21
18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long
      {g} halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God,
      follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people
      answered him not a word.

      (g) Be consistent in religion and do not be indifferent,
          whether you follow God or Baal, or whether you serve
          God wholly or in part, Zep 1:5.

1Ki 18:24
18:24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on
      the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth {h} by
      fire, let him be God.  And all the people answered and
      said, It is well spoken.

      (h) By sending down fire from heaven to burn the
          sacrifice.

1Ki 18:26
18:26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they
      dressed [it], and called on the name of Baal from morning
      even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was]
      no voice, nor any that answered. And they {i} leaped upon
      the altar which was made.

      (i) As men possessed by some strange spirit.

1Ki 18:27
18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and
      said, Cry aloud: for he [is] a god; either he is talking,
      or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, [or]
      peradventure he sleepeth, and must be {l} awaked.

      (l) He mocks their beastly madness, who think that by any
          instance or suit, the dead and vile idols can help
          their worshippers in their necessity.

1Ki 18:35
18:35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he {m} filled
      the trench also with water.

      (m) By this he declared the excellent power of God, who
          contrary to nature could make the fire burn even in
          the water, so that they should have no opportunity to
          doubt that he is the only God.

1Ki 18:37
18:37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that
      thou [art] the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their
      heart back {n} again.

      (n) Though God permits his to run in blindness and error
          for a time, yet eventually he calls them home to him
          by some notorious sign and work.

1Ki 18:40
18:40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let
      not {o} one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah
      brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them
      there.

      (o) He commanded them that as they were truly persuaded to
          confess the only God: so they should serve him with
          all their power, and destroy the idolaters his
          enemies.

1Ki 18:43
18:43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea.
      And he went up, and looked, and said, [There is] nothing.
      And he said, Go again {p} seven times.

      (p) As God's spirit moved him to pray, so was he
          strengthened by the same that he did not faint, but
          continued still till he had obtained.

1Ki 18:46
18:46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up
      his loins, and ran {q} before Ahab to the entrance of
      Jezreel.

      (q) He was so strengthened by God's spirit that he ran
          faster than the chariot was able to run.