But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name:
All Commentaries on John 1:12 Go To John 1
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
He gave to them power to be made the adoptive sons of God, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. They are made the children of God by believing and by a new spiritual birth in the sacrament of baptism, not of blood; (literally, not of bloods) not by the will, and desires of the flesh, not by the will of men, nor by human generation, as children are first born of their natural parents, but of God, by faith and divine grace. (Witham)
