In the first place, we cannot overestimate the importance of the Resurrection, for this fact, either real or supposed, was the foundation of Christianity. This is plain not only from the Gospels, but still more from the Acts, where we have numerous short speeches by the Apostles, given under various circumstances, and to various audiences, including Jewish Councillors, Greek philosophers, and Roman governors. And in nearly all of them the Resurrection of Christ is not only positively asserted, but is emphasised as a fact established by indisputable evidence and as being the foundation of Christianity.[269] It is even said that it was the special duty of an apostle to bear witness to it; and St. Paul seems to have been aware of this, since, when claiming to be an apostle, he is careful to show that he was thus qualified. And for himself he makes it the basis of all his teaching, _if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain_.[270] It is certain, then, that the first preachers of Christianity preached the Resurrection of Christ. [Footnote 269: Acts 2. 24; 4. 10; 5. 30; 10. 40; 13. 30; 17. 31; 26. 23.] [Footnote 270: Acts 1. 22; 1 Cor. 9. 1; 15. 14-17.] It is equally certain that they preached that it occurred on the _third day_, counting from the Crucifixion.[271] This also is stated not only in the Gospels, but by St. Paul; who in one place bases his whole argument on the fact that the Body of Christ (unlike that of David) _saw no corruption_, a point also alluded to by St. Peter, and implying a Resurrection in a few days.[272] While if further evidence is required, the fact that this third day (the first day of the week) became _the Lord's Day_--the Christian Sunday--seems to put the matter beyond dispute. [Footnote 271: Sometimes described as _after three days_, but that the two expressions are intended to mean the same is clear from Matt. 27. 63-64, where Christ's saying that He would rise again _after three days_ is given as the reason for guarding the sepulchre _until the third day_. In the same way _after eight days_ evidently means _on the eighth day_ (John 20. 26).] [Footnote 272: 1 Cor. 15. 4; Acts 13. 35-37; 2. 31.] Once more it is certain that the Christians believed that this Resurrection was one of Christ's _Body_, not His _Spirit_. This again is clear not only from the Gospels, which all speak of the _empty tomb_; but also from St. Paul's Epistles. For when he says that Christ _died_, and was _buried_, and was _raised on the third day_, and _appeared_ to Cephas, etc., he must mean Christ's _Body_ (for a Spirit cannot be _buried_); and he must mean that it was the _same_ Body that died and was buried, that was afterwards raised, and appeared to them, including himself.[273] Christ's being _raised_, it will be noticed, was distinct from, and previous to, His _appearing_ to anyone, just as in the Gospels the empty tomb is always mentioned _before_ any of the appearances. [Footnote 273: 1 Cor. 15. 3-5.]