João Ferreira de Almeida

Who was João Ferreira de Almeida?

João Ferreira Annes de Almeida was a Portuguese Protestant pastor; the eponymous Bible translation he began also goes by his name.

Ferreira de Almeida, born in Várzea de Tavares, Portugal, is best known for his translation of the Bible into Portuguese, which he began at the age of 16, and continued translating until his death. He translated the New Testament completely and most books of the Old Testament. The translation was completed by his friend, Jacob op den Akker.

He was a Dutch Reformed pastor and worked with churches in Java, and also preached in Goa on the Indian subcontinent. Ferreira de Almeida died in Batavia, Java. Little is known his life; the majority of facts come from the preface of his Bible translation.