They held their peace - They were silent. They “could” not say it was not lawful, for the law did not forbid it. If it had they would have said it. Here was the time for them to make objections if they had any, and not after the man was healed; and as they “made” no objection “then,” they could not with consistency afterward. They were, therefore, effectually silenced and confounded by the Saviour.
He took him - Took hold of the man, or perhaps took him apart into another room. By taking hold of him, or touching him, he showed that the power of healing went forth from himself.