“These various stories concur on one thing: within a few days of Jesus’ death, some thought he had risen from the dead. The common conviction harmonizes with the synoptic passion predictions, which have Jesus rising on or after the third day. Since there is no trace of a competing story line, I infer that we have here not just a social memory but a likely historical fact. Within a week of the crucifixion, something—or some things—happened which Jesus’ friends took to signal his resurrection.123”