"As the result of this disputation the king of Sweden accepted the Protestant faith, and not long afterward the national assembly declared in its favor. The New Testament had been translated by Olaf Petri into the Swedish language, and at the desire of the king the two brothers undertook the translation of the whole Bible. Thus for the first time the people of Sweden received the word of God in their native tongue. It was ordered by the Diet that throughout the kingdom, ministers should explain the Scriptures and that the children in the schools should be taught to read the Bible. GC 244.1"
"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
The EGW passage describes the implementation of teaching the Scriptures to children in schools, which directly reflects the principle outlined in Deuteronomy 6:7, where parents are instructed to diligently teach God's commandments to their children. The emphasis on education and the transmission of religious knowledge is a clear connection.
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
Both passages highlight the importance of people having access to scripture in their own language and the positive impact it has on their understanding and acceptance of faith. The Acts passage describes people eagerly studying the scriptures, while the EGW passage describes the translation and distribution of the Bible leading to national acceptance of Protestantism.
"Steadily and surely the darkness of ignorance and superstition was dispelled by the blessed light of the gospel. Freed from Romish oppression, the nation attained to a strength and greatness it had never before reached. Sweden became one of the bulwarks of Protestantism. A century later, at a time of sorest peril, this small and hitherto feeble nation—the only one in Europe that dared lend a helping hand—came to the deliverance of Germany in the terrible struggle of the Thirty Years’ War. All Northern Europe seemed about to be brought again under the tyranny of Rome. It was the armies of Sweden that enabled Germany to turn the tide of popish success, to win toleration for the Protestants,—Calvinists as well as Lutherans,—and to restore liberty of conscience to those countries that had accepted the Reformation. GC 244.2"
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
The EGW passage describes Sweden's role in preserving religious freedom, acting as a 'light' to other nations. This aligns with the general theme of Matthew 5:16, where believers are encouraged to let their light shine through good works. However, the connection is not direct or explicit.