John 1:12 (KJV)

Passage

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Nearby Context

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "received", "gave", "power", "become", "sons", "even", "believe", and "name". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "received" and "gave", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "He came unto his own and his..." into verse 13's "Which were born not of blood nor...", so "received" and "gave" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "received" and "gave" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.