"As Paul looked upon the beauty and grandeur surrounding him, and saw the city wholly given to idolatry, his spirit was stirred with jealousy for God, whom he saw dishonored on every side, and his heart was drawn out in pity for the people of Athens, who, notwithstanding their intellectual culture, were ignorant of the true God. AA 234.1"
"Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry."
The EGW passage directly mirrors the sentiment expressed in Acts 17:16 regarding Paul's reaction to the idolatry in Athens. The phrase 'his spirit was stirred in him' is nearly identical.
"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,"
Both passages address the idea of intellectual pride leading to foolishness or ignorance of God. While Romans 1:22 is a broader statement, the EGW passage applies this concept to the Athenians, who, despite their intellectual culture, were ignorant of the true God. The connection is thematic, though not a direct allusion.
"In this great city, where God was not worshiped, Paul was oppressed by a feeling of solitude, and he longed for the sympathy and aid of his fellow laborers. So far as human friendship was concerned, he felt himself to be utterly alone. In his epistle to the Thessalonians he expresses his feelings in the words, “Left at Athens alone.” 1 Thessalonians 3:1 . Obstacles that were apparently insurmountable presented themselves before him, making it seem almost hopeless for him to attempt to reach the hearts of the people. AA 234.3"
"Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;"
Ellen White directly references 1 Thessalonians 3:1 in this passage.