"Paul told the Thessalonian Jews of his former zeal for the ceremonial law and of his wonderful experience at the gate of Damascus. Before his conversion he had been confident in a hereditary piety, a false hope. His faith had not been anchored in Christ; he had trusted instead in forms and ceremonies. His zeal for the law had been disconnected from faith in Christ and was of no avail. While boasting that he was blameless in the performance of the deeds of the law, he had refused the One who made the law of value. AA 228.1"
"For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge."
Both passages discuss zeal without knowledge or proper grounding. EGW expands on Paul's prior misplaced zeal, echoing the sentiment in Romans 10:2.
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
EGW's statement about Paul's misplaced trust in the law directly reflects the principle articulated in Galatians 2:16, that justification comes through faith in Christ, not works of the law.
"But at the time of his conversion all had been changed. Jesus of Nazareth, whom he had been persecuting in the person of His saints, appeared before him as the promised Messiah. The persecutor saw Him as the Son of God, the one who had come to the earth in fulfillment of the prophecies and who in His life had met every specification of the Sacred Writings. AA 228.2"
"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."
Both passages describe Paul's encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, where Jesus identifies Himself as the one Paul is persecuting. EGW elaborates on the significance of this encounter, but the core event is the same.
"And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God."
Both passages relate to Paul's conversion and subsequent preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. EGW provides context, while Acts 9:20 shows the immediate result of Paul's conversion.