"They had been accustomed to hear shrieks and moans, cursing and swearing, breaking the silence of the night; but never before had they heard words of prayer and praise ascending from that gloomy cell. Guards and prisoners marveled and asked themselves who these men could be, who, cold, hungry, and tortured, could yet rejoice. AA 214.1"
"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."
EGW is retelling the story from Acts 16:25, elaborating on the scene.
"Rejoice evermore."
The passage in Acts describes Paul and Silas rejoicing in prison, which aligns with the general theme of rejoicing found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16. While not a direct quote or explicit allusion, the connection is thematically relevant.
"Meanwhile the magistrates returned to their homes, congratulating themselves that by prompt and decisive measures they had quelled a tumult. But on the way they heard further particulars concerning the character and work of the men they had sentenced to scourging and imprisonment. They saw the woman who had been freed from satanic influence and were struck by the change in her countenance and demeanor. In the past she had caused the city much trouble; now she was quiet and peaceable. As they realized that in all probability they had visited upon two innocent men the rigorous penalty of the Roman law they were indignant with themselves and decided that in the morning they would command that the apostles be privately released and escorted from the city, beyond the danger of violence from the mob. AA 214.2"
"And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."
The EGW passage describes the aftermath of Paul casting out the spirit, and the magistrates' reaction to the changed woman. While not a direct quote or explicit allusion, it builds upon the narrative context of Acts 16:18 and the surrounding verses, showing the impact of the event.