Again, it is most unlikely that so many persons, both friends and foes, should have mistaken Christ for dead. Yet according to this theory the _soldiers_ entrusted with the execution, who must have had a good deal of experience in such matters; the _centurion_, who was sent for by Pilate on purpose to ascertain this very point; the _Christians_, who took down the Body and wrapped it in linen cloths; and the _Jews_, who are not likely to have left their Victim without making sure of the fact, must all have honestly believed that Christ was dead when He was not. Moreover, the tomb was carefully guarded by His enemies for the express purpose of securing the Body. How then did they let it escape? If they were not asleep at the time, they must either have done this _willingly_, because they were bribed; or _unwillingly_, because they could not help it, being overcome by some supernatural Power; and either alternative is fatal to the Swoon Theory. This theory also requires not only that the Apostles should have been mistaken in thinking that Christ had risen from the dead, but that Christ Himself should have countenanced the mistake; or He would have explained the truth to His disciples. He is thus made to be a deceiver instead of His Apostles, which all will admit to be most improbable. And then, what became of Him afterwards? If He died again within a few weeks, His disciples could scarcely have thought Him the Prince of Life, who had the keys of Death and of Hades;[328] and if He continued to live, where did He go to? Moreover He must have died again at some time, and His real tomb is sure to have been much venerated by His followers; and it would have prevented any belief in the Ascension. Yet as said before (Chapter XV.), this seems to have formed a part of Christian instruction from the very first. [Footnote 328: Acts 3. 15; Rev. 1. 18.] But perhaps the chief argument against this theory is that it does not account for many of the actual _facts_ recorded; such as Christ passing through closed doors, His vanishing at pleasure, and His Ascension. These details present no difficulty on the Vision Theory, nor on that of deliberate falsehood; but they are inconsistent with the present one. And though it accounts to some extent for the empty tomb; it does not account for the _angels_ being there, announcing the Resurrection.