Why could the religious leaders say nothing against Peter and John after the healing in Acts 4?
The healed man was standing with them as visible proof of the miracle. The council recognized these men had been with Jesus and exercised a power the religious leaders could not match. Because the notable miracle was manifest to all Jerusalem, they could not deny it or say anything against them.
Les teaches that the religious leaders saw these men were unlearned and ignorant, not taught by the rabbis or in any seminary; their only preparation was the presence of Christ for three years. Yet the leaders marveled and took knowledge that they had been with Jesus. Then, beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they had proof positive that these men had a power those religious leaders could not touch. They could not do it, so they could say nothing against it. When the council conferred, they admitted a notable miracle had been done and was manifest to all Jerusalem; they could not deny it, but they wanted it spread no further. Les points out that Satan uses religious people to stop the truth, and that has not changed.
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.