I think if you'd asked in the beginning if a text message was sent instead of asking if the phone was dying then this wouldn't have exploded. I think he was frustrated that you called really late because he wasn't aware of it and the text seemed pretty trivial at best.

Also I would have just forwarded the text back to him so he could have seen that he sent it. It probably would have been easier to clear up if both of you were in the same room so he could physically see the message and not accuse you of anything.