On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
In a Nutshell
Peter, a Galilean fisherman, the One Jesus indicated would lead the apostles, stands before the leaders of Israel. He explains the healing. He confesses his faith in Jesus.
Questions
What kind of event was this? How long do you think this lasted? Could it have been all over in, say, 5 minutes?
Peter in answer to the question put to him, said what needed to be said. It seems they wanted the case over and done with as quickly as possible so they could move on to other items of business on their agenda.
It doesn't seem to have been a very long hearing. Peter was asked to explain himself and he states what had happened in simple terms - he had told the man: "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk!"
And the man, lame from birth, was, from that moment, able to walk. He had been healed. Many witnesses could also attest to the fact. It happened on the previous day in the temple at the time of prayer.
Then, also very briefly, Peter explained his own view of what had happened. The man's healing had come after he invoked the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
He reminded the Council - if they needed reminding - about Jesus. They can check their own records and those of Pilate. They had crucified Him some months back but God had raised Him from the dead.
At this point, Peter is quoting something His Rabbi had said when Jesus had been cross-examined by these same religious leaders in the temple. The question had been one of authority and because the religious leaders were afraid of the crowd they were not willing to answer Jesus' question about the validity of John the Baptist's testimony. Jesus had told a parable about the tenants of a vineyard and in conclusion He quoted from Psalm 118: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner." Then the religious leaders had wanted to proceed with an arrest, but at that time there was the crowd … there was the crowd and they were afraid of the crowd.
Peter consciously developed his public explanation for following Jesus, by using similar arguments His Master had used.