Could the people of Paul's day tell whether someone was actually dead?
People in Paul's day could generally discern whether someone was actually dead. The ancients were not stupid; they had a reasonably good idea whether life remained in a body. Those who stoned Paul therefore supposed he was dead, and for all practical purposes Saul was put to death by that stoning.
Les explains that Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded the people at Lystra, stoned Paul, and dragged him outside the city, supposing he was dead. He notes that the ancients were not that stupid and had a pretty good idea whether there was life left in a body, so he concludes that for all practical purposes Saul was put to death by the stoning. Then, in Acts 14:20, Paul suddenly stood up on his feet without any help from an outside source, which Les calls miraculous. The account does not say how many hours he may have lain there while his disciples, meaning fellow believers, were in a dither about what to do.
And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.