"referring to the first advent of Christ. Carefully he traced down the prophecies, with a memory sharpened by the conviction that had taken possession of his mind. As he reflected on the meaning of these prophecies he was astonished at his former blindness of understanding and at the blindness of the Jews in general, which had led to the rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah. To his enlightened vision all now seemed plain. He knew that his former prejudice and unbelief had clouded his spiritual perception and had prevented him from discerning in Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah of prophecy. AA 119.1"
"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,"
The EGW passage describes Saul's understanding of the scriptures being opened after his conversion, similar to how Jesus opened the understanding of his disciples in Luke 24:45. The connection is thematic, focusing on the enlightenment and understanding of scripture.