Suzie Smith, from Trinity Church Lockleys, wears many hats—wife to Senior Pastor Des, mum of four, Bible College faculty member, and PhD candidate studying Luke-Acts at Charles Sturt University.

We caught up with her recently to chat about what she’s been learning in her PhD studying Luke-Acts, and the journey that brought her there.

Can you tell us a bit about your PhD?

I’m exploring connections between Acts 3-4 and Luke 19-21, using an intratextual literary approach. Since Luke and Acts form one continuous story, I’m reading them together and paying close attention to narrative elements like characters, setting, and plot.

What fascinates me is the healing of the crippled man at the temple gate in Acts 3. Luke gives it a strikingly prominent place—right after Pentecost—suggesting it plays a key role in the unfolding restoration of Israel through the Spirit’s power. 

Twice, this healing is called a “sign,” which raises the question: A sign of what?

My thesis question connects with big discussions in Lukan scholarship about the Jerusalem temple, Israel and eschatology.

We often don’t take the unity of Luke-Acts seriously. You rarely see a sermon series or college course covering both books together, and I think we’re missing out.

I always encourage people to print them out as a single document and read them as one story—it’s eye-opening!

Can you tell us about your journey to a PhD?

In 2017, when my husband took a pastoral role in Adelaide, I was wondering what was next for me.

Through a series of events, I ended up in conversation with the Principal of Bible College SA, and it turns out they were looking for someone. I joined the faculty in 2019, which meant upskilling with a PhD. Five years later, here I am!

I started my PhD a decade after finishing my Master of Divinity, after years full of God-given opportunities—including having four kids.

That gap wasn’t ideal for a biblical studies PhD, especially one requiring Greek fluency! But undertaking a part-time PhD through St Mark’s National Theological Centre at Charles Sturt University has been a great fit, with strong distance learning options and excellent library access.

It’s also super helpful to receive an Australian Government Research Training Programme scholarship covering tuition.

My supervisors have been incredibly supportive—thoughtful, godly men who ask questions as if they expect to learn from me, which is refreshing.

And my husband has been a huge encourager. He’s currently preaching through Acts, so we have rich theological discussions. Plus, he’s been picking up the lion’s share of home duties this year while I focus full-time on my thesis.

What drew you to this study?

Luke is a major voice in the New Testament, responsible for nearly a third of it, yet often underappreciated.

I also love narrative and storytelling—I did my undergrad honours thesis in literary studies—so Luke’s skill as a storyteller drew me in.

Theologically, I’ve long been fascinated by how New Testament writers engage with Jewish scripture and how Jesus fulfills it. And I firmly believe all scripture is Spirit-inspired—not just the red letters, but the black ones too.

Luke-Acts, with its rich narrative and embedded speech, is a goldmine of deep theological truths.

What are you wrestling with at the moment?

I’m wrestling with how Luke conceives of the relationship between Jesus’ resurrection, ascension and exaltation.

Often in Lukan studies scholars bundle them all into one and hyphenate the three to demonstrate a theological complex of ideas that can’t be neatly delineated. Others argue for a distinctiveness to all three as particular moments in Jesus’ post-mortem life. So I’m chewing over that at the moment.

Jesus’ session has a huge significance for the book of Acts and our lives. As he sits at God’s right hand, he is reigning over world events.

This doesn’t take away the pain and suffering of our world, but it’s a really comforting truth, especially when the world currently seems so disordered and chaotic. As we see God’s word continue to spread and the church grow, we see God’s sovereignty at work.

Are there resources that you can recommend?

If you’re looking for tools that treat Luke and Acts as narratives—tracing plot, characters, and themes while respecting their literary form—these are great places to start:

Thematic & Theological Treatments of Luke-Acts

For Preparing Bible Talks or Studies

Suzie Smith

What have you been learning that has made you thankful or led you to worship God?

I’m so thankful to be in year 5 of my 6 year part-time PhD and not at all sick of my topic!

Studying Luke-Acts has renewed my gratitude for God’s grace in including Gentiles in salvation. We often see Acts as a book about mission—specifically Gentile mission—but that’s secondary to God’s redemptive plan for Israel.

Salvation comes to Israel first, and through a restored Israel, to the nations. I’m continually in awe that as a Gentile I’ve been brought into this salvation.

I’ve also been reflecting on God’s sovereignty—His power over history and individual lives. In Acts 12, Peter is miraculously freed from prison, a reminder that God still works supernaturally, even if we don’t expect it.

We often fall into an under-realised eschatology, assuming God doesn’t intervene in extraordinary ways. This study has stirred in me a renewed prayerfulness—that God would act powerfully today—and an awareness of how He is already doing so around the world.