Precision counts.
"To receive" is passive; someone else is doing the action of transference, i.e. God gives his grace through faith in Jesus Christ; or Christ died in order that we might receive salvation.
"To accept" is active; the person obtaining the gift is doing the action of transference, i.e. "I've accepted your apology" or "I've accepted a new job."
***Yesh. More deconstruction of the English language.***
For what it's worth, the "received" of John 1:12 is the "effective aorist active indicative of lambanw "as many as did receive him,"... exceptional action on the part of the disciples and other believers"