Akiba Ben Joseph, a Jewish rabbi of the early part of the 2d century, one of the principal fathers of the Mishna. A native of Syria, he travelled in Arabia, Gaul, Cyrene, Egypt, and other countries, and became the most eminent teacher of ins time and people. Having warmly embraced the cause of the insurrection under Bar Cokheha against the Romans, he was captured and executed about 135.