Apeidō means to look away from other things toward something, or simply to look at, behold. The prefix apo can indicate looking away from distractions to fix the gaze on something specific. Found in Philippians 2:23, where Paul hopes to send Timothy when he sees how things go with him — to have a clear view of his situation.
In Philippians 2:23, Paul uses apeidō practically — he wants a clear view of his circumstances before sending Timothy. This reflects the wisdom of careful discernment rather than impulsive action. The wise leader observes the situation clearly before deploying those under his care. The call to "fix our eyes" on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) uses related imagery — purposeful, fixed attention.