Episkope appears 4 times in the New Testament with two distinct but related meanings: (1) divine visitation or inspection (Luke 19:44; 1 Peter 2:12) — the moment when God 'comes to inspect' what is happening; (2) the office of bishop/overseer in the church (Acts 1:20; 1 Timothy 3:1) — the responsibility of watching over God's flock. Both meanings derive from episkopos (overseer/bishop) which itself comes from epi (over) + skopeo (to look/watch).
Luke 19:44 is a devastating lament: Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because they 'did not recognize the time of God's coming [episkope] to you.' The visitation they missed was the arrival of their Messiah. 1 Peter 2:12 urges believers to live honorably so that Gentiles who observe them 'may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits [episkope] us.' The church leadership office (episkope) carries this same weight — the overseer represents God's ongoing visitation and care of His flock. To seek the episkope (1 Timothy 3:1) is to take on the sacred responsibility of being God's watching presence in the congregation.