"***** Chapter 5—Opposition of Formal Brethren For six months not a cloud intervened between me and my Saviour. Whenever there was a proper opportunity, I bore my testimony, and was greatly blessed. At times the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me with such power that my strength was taken from me. This was a trial to some who had come out from the formal churches, and remarks were often made that grieved me much. Many could not believe that one could be so overpowered by the Spirit of God as to lose all strength. My position was exceedingly painful. I began to reason with myself whether I was not justified in withholding my testimony in meeting, and thus restraining my feelings, when there was such an opposition in the hearts of some who were older in years and experience than myself. 1T 44"
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
Both passages describe a powerful experience with the Holy Spirit and the subsequent reactions of others. In Acts, it's boldness; in EGW, it's opposition from formal brethren. The connection is thematic, focusing on the manifestation of the Spirit and its impact, but not a direct quote or allusion.
"I adopted this plan of silence for a time, trying to convince myself that to repress my testimony would not hinder me from faithfully living out my religion. I often felt strongly impressed that it was my duty to speak in meeting, but refrained from doing so, and was sensible of having thereby grieved the Spirit of God. I even remained away from meetings sometimes because they were to be attended by those whom my testimony annoyed. I shrank from offending my brethren, and in this allowed the fear of man to break up that uninterrupted communion with God which had blessed my heart for so many months. 1T 44.2"
"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
The EGW passage illustrates the principle of obeying God rather than men. She felt compelled to speak but refrained to avoid offending others, directly mirroring the dilemma faced by the apostles in Acts 5:29.
"Quench not the Spirit."
EGW explicitly states she grieved the Spirit of God by repressing her testimony. This directly relates to the concept of 'quenching the Spirit' as described in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.
"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."
The EGW passage directly reflects the principle of prioritizing God's will over the approval of men, as highlighted in Galatians 1:10. She is struggling with pleasing men (her brethren) versus following what she believes is God's leading.
"We had appointed evening prayer meetings in different localities of the city to accommodate all who wished to attend them. The family that had been most forward in opposing me attended one of these. Upon this occasion, while those assembled were engaged in prayer, the Spirit of the Lord came upon the meeting, and one of the members of this family was prostrated as one dead. His relatives stood weeping around him, rubbing his hands and applying restoratives. At length he gained sufficient strength to praise God, and quieted their fears by shouting with triumph over the marked evidence he had received of the power of the Lord upon him. The young man was unable to return home that night. 1T 44.3"
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
Both passages describe a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit during prayer, with physical manifestations. The shaking in Acts 4:31 is similar to the prostration described in the EGW passage. However, the connection is thematic rather than a direct allusion.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Both passages describe being filled with the Holy Spirit. While the specific manifestation (speaking in tongues vs. prostration) differs, the underlying theme of the Spirit's power being present is similar.