παρατυγχάνω G3909
to happen to be present, chance to be near, encounter
A verb describing being present by chance, happening upon a scene, or encountering someone unexpectedly. Classical usage emphasized the element of coincidence—the first person who happens by. Acts 17:17 uses the participle to describe those 'happening to be present' in the marketplace where Paul reasoned daily. The term captures the apparently casual encounters that become opportunities for gospel witness—divine sovereignty working through seemingly random human traffic.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 17:17 mentions Paul reasoning with those 'happening to be present' (παρατυγχάνοντας) in the Athenian marketplace. The translations (English 'happening-to-be-present', Spanish 'que-encontraba', French 'rencontrer') emphasize the chance encounters. Paul didn't wait for formal audiences but engaged whoever providence brought across his path. The agora became a mission field where casual passersby met reasoned argument for the gospel—strategic opportunism in action. 1×
AR["يُقابِلونَهُ"]·ben["ঘটনা-ঘটা"]·DE["παρατυγχάνοντας"]·EN["happening-to-be-present"]·FR["rencontrer"]·heb["נִקְרִים"]·HI["मिलने-वालों"]·ID["yang-ada-di-sana"]·IT["trovarsi-per-caso"]·jav["kang-kepanggih"]·KO["만나는-자들에게"]·RU["встречающимися"]·ES["que-encontraba"]·SW["waliokutana-naye"]·TR["karşılaştıklarıyla"]·urd["ملنے-والوں"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
παρατυγχάνω, perfect -τέτευχα and -τετύχηκα (see. below): aorist παρέτῠχον: — happen to be near, be among, παρετύγχανε μαρναμένοισιν Refs 8th c.BC+; π. τῷ λόγῳ, τῷ πάθεϊ, to be present at.., Refs 5th c.BC+; but ὁ πλείστοις κινδύνοις -τετευχώς who had met with.., Refs: with Preps., visit, εἰς κώμην Refs 2nd c.AD+; ἐπὶ διάγνωσιν put in an appearance at.., Mitteis Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 absolutely,…