"The legate's address made a deep impression upon the Diet. There was no Luther present, with the clear and convincing truths of God's word, to vanquish the papal champion. No attempt was made to defend the Reformer. There was manifest a general disposition not only to condemn him and the doctrines which he taught, but if possible to uproot the heresy. Rome had enjoyed the most favorable opportunity to defend her cause. All that she could say in her own vindication had been said. But the apparent victory was the signal of defeat. Henceforth the contrast between truth and error would be more clearly seen, as they should take the field in open warfare. Never from that day would Rome stand as secure as she had stood. GC 149.1"
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."
Both passages involve a situation where the perceived weakness or absence of a key figure (Luther in EGW, Jesus in Acts) paradoxically leads to a strengthening of the opposing side's resolve, but ultimately reveals the truth and undermines their position. The boldness of Peter and John in Acts, despite their lack of formal training, parallels Luther's absence leading to a clearer contrast between truth and error.
"While most of the members of the Diet would not have hesitated to yield up Luther to the vengeance of Rome, many of them saw and deplored the existing depravity in the church, and desired a suppression of the abuses suffered by the German people in consequence of the corruption and greed of the hierarchy. The legate had presented the papal rule in the most favorable light. Now the Lord moved upon a member of the Diet to give a true delineation of the effects of papal tyranny. With noble firmness, Duke George of Saxony stood up in that princely assembly and specified with terrible exactness the deceptions and abominations of popery, and their dire results. In closing he said: GC 149.2"
"The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."
The EGW passage describes God influencing Duke George to speak out against the papacy, similar to Proverbs 21:1 describing God's control over a king's heart. The connection is valid and meaningful.
"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
The EGW passage describes Duke George speaking out against the papacy despite potential consequences, echoing the sentiment of Acts 5:29 about obeying God rather than men. The connection is valid.
"“These are some of the abuses that cry out against Rome. All shame has been put aside, and their only object is ... money, money, money, ... so that the preachers who should teach the truth, utter nothing but falsehoods, and are not only tolerated, but rewarded, because the greater their lies, the greater their gain. It is from this foul spring that such tainted waters flow. Debauchery stretches out the hand to avarice.... Alas, it is the scandal caused by the clergy that hurls so many poor souls into eternal condemnation. A general reform must be effected.”— Ibid., b. 7, ch. 4. GC 149.3"
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."
Both passages condemn religious leaders for hypocrisy and greed. Matthew 23:14 specifically addresses the scribes and Pharisees, while the EGW passage addresses the abuses of the Roman Catholic clergy. The thematic overlap is clear and meaningful.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
The EGW passage highlights the love of money as a driving force behind the corruption of the clergy, which aligns with the warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 about the love of money being the root of all evil. The connection is valid.