Commentary Par XXV 13-15

While James is never named, he is clearly identified (the same will be true of John at the end of this canto and in XXVI).

The spera (circle) referred to is surely that most precious one among those making up the Church Triumphant (see [Par XXIV 13-18] and C.Par.XXIV.13-18), the one containing at least some of the apostles.  For primizie (first-fruits), see James 1:18: 'Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.' James is speaking of all the apostles; here Dante uses his word in the singular to refer to Peter alone.