"Bidding His hearers marvel not, Christ opened before them, in still wider view, the mystery of the future. “The hour cometh,” He said, “in which all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done ill, unto the resurrection of judgment.” John 5:28, 29 , R. V. DA 211.1"
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,"
EGW directly quotes John 5:28, making this an explicit allusion.
"This assurance of the future life was that for which Israel had so long waited, and which they had hoped to receive at the Messiah's advent. The only light that can lighten the gloom of the grave was shining upon them. But self-will is blind. Jesus had violated the traditions of the rabbis, and disregarded their authority, and they would not believe. DA 211.2"
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
Both passages discuss the Jews' understanding of scripture and their failure to recognize Jesus as the Messiah who offers eternal life. The EGW passage speaks to the Jews' hope for the future life at the Messiah's advent, and their blindness due to self-will. John 5:39 speaks of searching the scriptures and thinking they have eternal life, but failing to recognize Jesus. There is a clear thematic connection.
"mission, His judges looked upon Him with astonishment and rage; but His words were unanswerable. They could not condemn Him. He denied the right of the priests and rabbis to question Him, or to interfere with His work. They were invested with no such authority. Their claims were based upon their own pride and arrogance. He refused to plead guilty of their charges, or to be catechized by them. DA 211.3"
"And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."
Both passages describe Jesus being questioned about his authority by religious leaders. The EGW passage is a commentary on the events described in Matthew 21:23-27.
"And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?"
Both passages involve religious leaders questioning the authority by which someone (Jesus in the Gospels, Peter and John in Acts) performs certain actions. The EGW passage reflects the general theme of challenging authority.
"For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Both passages contrast Jesus' authority with that of the religious leaders. The EGW passage highlights Jesus' inherent authority, while Matthew 7:29 notes the difference in His teaching style compared to the scribes.
"Instead of apologizing for the act of which they complained, or explaining His purpose in doing it, Jesus turned upon the rulers, and the accused became the accuser. He rebuked them for the hardness of their hearts, and their ignorance of the Scriptures. He declared that they had rejected the word of God, inasmuch as they had rejected Him whom God had sent. “Ye search the Scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of Me.” John 5:39 , R. V. DA 211.4"
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
Ellen White directly references John 5:39 in this passage.
"In every page, whether history, or precept, or prophecy, the Old Testament Scriptures are irradiated with the glory of the Son of God. So far as it was of divine institution, the entire system of Judaism was a compacted prophecy of the gospel. To Christ “give all the prophets witness.” Acts 10:43 . From the promise given to Adam, down through the patriarchal line and the legal economy, heaven's glorious light made plain the footsteps of the Redeemer. Seers beheld the Star of Bethlehem, the Shiloh to come, as future things swept before them in mysterious procession. In every sacrifice Christ's death was shown. In every cloud of incense His righteousness ascended. By every jubilee trumpet His name was sounded. In the awful mystery of the holy of holies His glory dwelt. DA 211.5"
"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."
Ellen White directly references Acts 10:43 in this passage.